AN 83 YEAR OLD CURRY COUNTY MAN BECOMES THE STATE'S FIRST FATALITY FROM THE WEST NILE VIRUS THIS YEAR. STATE PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIAN PAUL ETTESTAD TELLS 770 KKOB THE MAN HAD ENCEPHALITIS, THE MORE SEVERE FORM OF THE VIRUS.
THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER CASES SO FAR THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A 66 YEAR OLD CURRY COUNTY WOMAN. SHE HAD THE LESS SEVERE FORM OF THE ILLNESS, SO SHE WASN'T HOSPITALIZED. THE FIRST CASE OF THE YEAR WAS IN A 13 YEAR OLD SAN JUAN COUNTY BOY WHO IS ALSO RECOVERING.
ETTESTAD SAYS IT'S BEST TO ASSUME ANY MOSQUITOES YOU FIND COULD BE CARRYING THE VIRUS, SO USE INSECT REPELLENT WHEN YOU'RE OUTDOORS.
