First Case of Human West Nile Virus Confirmed - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

First Case of Human West Nile Virus Confirmed

North Dakota Health Department officials report the season's first confirmed human case of West Nile Virus. A man age 50 to 59 has been hospitalized in Dickey County with the infection.

But across the country, at least four people have died so far this year.

Since January, about 240 people have contracted the virus, that's the highest number at this time of year since 2004, Most cases are in Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

The CDC says we're probably seeing more cases of West Nile because much of the US had a mild winter, a very early spring and then very high temperatures and just the right rainfall patterns to make a lot of mosquitoes.

"We are early in the season. August and September are usually the peak transmission periods so having this much activity this early and this widespread is cause for concern," said Dr. Roger Nasci Centers for Disease Control.

The most common symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache and body aches.

But the virus can also trigger potentially deadly symptoms such as inflammation of the brain.

People over 50 and those with cancer or diabetes are at greatest risk for serious illness.

North Dakota health officials recommend protecting yourself with insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn.

Last year there were 4 confirmed cases of West Nile in North Dakota, and nine in 2010.