The South Dakota Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first human West Nile Virus case of the 2021 season.
It’s a Walworth County male in his 60’s.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says protecting yourself from mosquito bites, especially during evening hours, remains vitally important to avoid becoming infected with West Nile Virus. He says people can reduce their risk by taking the following actions:
- Apply mosquito repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, param-menthane-diol, or IR3535) to clothes and exposed skin. Limit exposure by wearing pants and long sleeves in the evening;
- Limit time outdoors from dusk to midnight when mosquitoes are most active. Culex tarsalis are the primary carrier of WNV in South Dakota;
- Remove standing water that gives mosquitoes a place to breed. Regularly change the water in birdbaths, outside pet dishes, and drain water from other flowerpots and garden containers and stay away from areas near standing water; and
- Support local mosquito control efforts.
Clayton says these precautions are especially important for people at high risk for WNV, including individuals over 50, pregnant women, organ transplant patients, individuals with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease and those with a history of alcohol abuse. He says people with severe or unusual headaches should see their physicians.
Since the first human WNV case was reported in the state in 2002, South Dakota has reported 2,634 human cases, including 850 hospitalizations and 46 deaths. Every county has previously reported cases.
Historically, South Dakota has seen a disproportionately high number of WNV cases that involve inflammation of the brain or spinal cord compared to other regional states.
Find more information on the SDDOH website.
Infographic credit South Dakota State University.
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