Three people from Salt Lake City, Utah have fallen victims to the West Nile Virus (WNV), according to officials.
In a press release from the Salt Lake County Health Department issued last Friday, there are three human cases. It stated that all three patients will soon recover and authorities assure that a person will not catch the virus through human contact but only from the bite of the mosquito, Fox 13 reported.
According to Nicholas Rupp, spokesman for the health department, in a report from KSL, the identification of the virus in humans serves as a good example that the disease continues on even though the summer season has ended.
Rupp emphasized that there is a need for people to be more vigilant when it comes to protecting themselves from mosquitoes.
For the last few years, the Beehive State has seen two cases of WNV in humans every year at most. In 2014, there were two reported cases of WNV in humans in Utah; the last fatality recorded from the disease was in 2007.
Rupp also said that it's not unusual for the virus to cause diseases during the end of summer or early fall.
Sam Dickson, director of the city's Mosquito Abatement District (MAD), said in a press release that the WNV-carrying mosquitoes were spotted all over the valley, according to Fox 13.
Dickson added that the MAD crew has been intensifying their efforts since the start of the season to reduce the mosquito population. However, the team cannot eradicate all of the insects and advises residents to also take part in protecting themselves.
Those who need to be outdoors from dusk to dawn should wear covered clothing. The use of DEET repellents will also help especially those who are outdoors most of the time.
MAD also advises residents to keep ponds clean and contact the team for a supply of mosquito-eating fish.
Stagnant waters should be removed regularly from yards; roof gutters should also be maintained clean.
It is also advisable to cut down tall grass and weeds since they are perfect resting spots for adult mosquitoes.
