This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 1:42 PM- A Salt Lake County child has West Nile fever, the first human case of the virus in the county this year.
It marks the second human case of West Nile Virus in Utah this season. The child was exposed to mosquitos while camping in the Uintah Mountains and is recuperating at home. A fever is a less severe form of the virus, and hospitalization was not required.
"With mosquito pools testing positive in Utah it is no surprise to see our first human case of West Nile virus," said Dagmar Vitek, deputy director of the Salt Lake Valley Health Department, which reported the case Tuesday. "It is a strong reminder that we must continue to take precautions to protect ourselves during the mosquito biting season."
Prevention measures include using mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picardin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or IR3535 from dusk to dawn; wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors and removing standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.