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As first reported by the North Dakota Monitor, North Dakota health officials are urging residents to take mosquito precautions as West Nile virus cases surge. Twelve new cases were reported this week, bringing the state total to 26 – with 11 people hospitalized and nine suffering nervous system complications. Many people who contract West Nile do not show symptoms, but those who do experience rash, headache, fever, or joint aches.
Cass County leads with 11 cases, followed by Burleigh County with three. These other counties have reported one case each: Divide, Hettinger, Kidder, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Pembina, Richland, Stark, Stutsman, Walsh and Williams counties. Health officials say peak West Nile activity typically occurs in late August, making now a critical time for vigilance.
The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Service recommends:
- Use insect repellent registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that contain ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD, 2-undecanone, and permethrin (clothing only).
- Wear protective clothing outdoors such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks.
- Limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus are most likely to bite.
- Eliminate stagnant water in containers around homes where mosquitoes can lay their eggs, such as: gutters, buckets, flowerpots, old tires, wading pools and birdbaths.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of residences.
- Maintain a well-trimmed yard and landscaping.
People over 60 and those with underlying health conditions face higher risk of serious complications including paralysis and coma.
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