West Nile case revealed

RENO -- State health officials Friday said a person in Pershing County has been confirmed with a case of West Nile virus.

The person is under the age of 50 and has a less severe form of the disease, West Nile fever, health officials said.

It's the second human case in Nevada this year. The other was in Clark County.

Last year in Nevada there were 124 human cases, including one death.

The disease is spread by mosquitoes that become infected when they feed on infected birds.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people who contract the virus won't become ill. About 20 percent will develop West Nile fever.

In severe cases, it can develop into encephalitis or meningitis, and patients can experience stupor, neck stiffness, severe headaches, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

The best way to protect against the virus is to wear insect repellent, long sleeves, pants and socks, especially when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, said Dr. Ihsan Azzam, state epidemiologist.

"West Nile virus is here to stay and I cannot stress enough the importance of practicing the preventive measures to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes," Azzam said.