Another person in Washoe County is infected with West Nile Virus. That makes two confirmed in the last week, as well as one horse in Washoe Valley.
The Washoe County Health District reports the latest individual lives near Hidden Valley in east Reno and was hospitalized for several days with the neuroinvasive form of the virus. This form can access and infect the nervous system and cause symptoms such as fever, muscle and joint pain and headache.
Spokesman Phil Ulibarri says residents should take precautions to avoid contact with mosquitos. This includes getting rid of any standing water around their property which can be found anywhere.
"Puddles, it could be spare tires that are lying around. It could toys, be pet bowls that have water. Things as small as discarded cans and caps. Just a cap full of water is enough for mosquitos to breed."
Ulibarri says that tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 2), the Health District will conduct fogging to kill adult mosquitos and larvicide to kill the larvae.
The first individual to be confirmed is a Sparks resident who was identified through the blood screening process after donating at a local blood bank.
Washoe County District Health Officer Kevin Dick says they received confirmation Friday from the Nevada State Lab that the individual was infected with West Nile Virus. Dick says the individual did not become sick and did not show sings of symptoms such as a fever.
He adds that although the blood and antibody tests were positive for the virus, the individual in question DOES NOT meet the CDC's clinical criteria for reporting purposes. The second person, however, was reported since his symptoms were more severe.
A total of five positive West Nile Virus tests in mosquitos have been reported by the Health District since the beginning of August.
