TIME TO PULL ON THE LONG SLEEVES, LONG PANTS AND SOCKS WHEN YOU WORK IN THE YARD IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. ACCORDING TO STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGIST CHAD SMELSER, WEST NILE VIRUS HAS TURNED UP IN THE STATE. A 13 YEAR OLD BOY FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY IS THE STATE'S FIRST CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS AFTER HE WAS BITTEN BY A MOSQUITO. THE BOY HAD THE LESS SEVERE FORM OF THE VIRUS AND IS RECOVERING AT HOME AFTER A SHORT STAY IN THE HOSPITAL.
SMELSER SAYS RECENT RAINS HAVE GIVEN MOSQUITOS BREEDING AREAS.THE VIRUS GENERALLY HITS THE STATE TO COINCIDE WITH THOSE RAINS. LAST YEAR THERE WERE 47 CASES OF WEST NILE, WITH ONE FATALITY.
