Douglas County confirms its first case of West Nile virus this year

GARDNERVILLE — Douglas County has confirmed its first case of West Nile virus this year.

County Mosquito Abatement District Director Krista Jenkins said a 50-year-old man has been diagnosed with a less-serious form of the illness.

Last year, Nevada had a statewide total of nine cases — eight in Clark County, which has reported five cases so far this year

Officials in Douglas Count, which is in Northern Nevada, first collected mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile on July 24. Carson City reported its first positive test July 30.

The virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes that fed on infected birds.

Humans don’t spread the virus, which doesn’t often but can prove fatal.

Mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph glands or a rash on the chest, stomach and back.