A woman from Twin Falls has tested positive for the West Nile Virus. It’s the first confirmed case in Idaho this year.
Dave Fotsch of the Central District Health Department says mosquitoes tested positive in Ada, Canyon, and Payette counties. According to the Ada County Weed, Pest, and Mosquito Abatement website, the virus has also been found in west Boise.
Fotsch says West Nile’s peak year came in 2006, with almost one-thousand confirmed cases and 23 deaths. Since then, Fotsch says it’s tapered off, with only three cases last year.
It’s something that is still out there and could be affecting people so we urge people to fight the bite, Fotsch says.
To do that, Fotsch advises people to use bug spray and wear long sleeves and pants. He also says people need to eliminate standing water around their homes, including from the bottom of flower pots and children’s toys.
An interactive map showing other test sites in Ada County can be found online at adaweb.net.