Increased West Nile Virus Cases in Wyoming

As Wyoming experiences more West Nile virus (WNV) activity this season than over the past decade or so, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is emphasizing mosquito bite prevention.

There have been 20 cases reported, including a death in an older adult Fremont County woman, among Wyoming residents so far this year. Of these, 12 cases have involved the more severe neuroinvasive type of illness.

Cases have been reported from Campbell, Fremont, Goshen, Laramie, Natrona, Park, Platte, Sheridan and Washakie counties. Mosquito pools and animals from around the state continue to test positive for the virus.

 While most infected people don’t have symptoms, among those who become ill, symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and diarrhea. A very small number of individuals develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease with symptoms such as severe headache, fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions and paralysis.

Information from WDH about West Nile virus can be found at http://www.badskeeter.org.