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West Nile Virus Found In Ada County

Ben Rauch
/
Flickr

West Nile virus is in Ada County. A mosquito trap near Star, Idaho tested positive for West Nile this week. It the first instance of the disease in Ada County this year.

The Ada County Weed, Pest, and Mosquito Abatement Department reports after the virus was found, the area was fogged, or treated with chemicals. After the application, the trap was free of West Nile virus.  Official says this could be a localized incidence of the virus since it has not been found in other nearby traps.

Officials plan to continue fogging in the area.

So far this year, West Nile has been detected in mosquitoes in traps in Canyon, Gem, and Payette counties. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports no people have come down with the disease this year.

The virus can be deadly. Last year, 26 people were infected with the illness, and two people died in Idaho from West Nile.

Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio | Copyright 2014 Boise State Public Radio

As Senior Producer of our live daily talk show Idaho Matters, I’m able to indulge my love of storytelling and share all kinds of information (I was probably a Town Crier in a past life!). My career has allowed me to learn something new everyday and to share that knowledge with all my friends on the radio.

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