West Nile Virus Found in Idaho

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have been found in Payette County.

It is the first detection of West Nile in Idaho this year. The agency says the virus was found in mosquitoes trapped southeast of the city of Payette. In 2006, Idaho led the nation in West Nile illnesses with almost 1,000 human infections, which contributed to 23 deaths. In 2013, 40 human cases were reported in 16 counties, with two deaths.

West Nile is usually contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito. It is not spread from person to person through casual contact. Symptoms of infection often include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.