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Health Officials Issue Warnings About West Nile Virus, Hantavirus: Warm Weather Increases Risk From Diseases, Which Can Be Fatal

Posted on: Saturday, 10 June 2006, 18:00 CDT

By Heath Druzin, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Jun. 10--Health officials are warning people about two diseases associated with warmer weather: West Nile virus and hantavirus.

West Nile was recently found in Gem County mosquitoes, the first indication of the virus in Idaho in 2006.

Last year, at least 13 people and 100 horses in Idaho contracted the virus.

"We are seeing West Nile activity much earlier this year than last, which serves as a warning for people to take precautions now to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites," Deputy State Epidemiologist Leslie Tengelsen said.

West Nile is typically spread through bites from infected mosquitoes and can lead to serious illness and death, especially in people over the age of 50, Health and Welfare said.

Another potentially fatal illness, hantavirus, is associated with places such as garages, campgrounds and cabins where rodents live, and local health officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid the virus.

Hantavirus is a respiratory disease spread through wild rodent saliva, urine and feces and a wet spring likely means more rodents and a higher potential for hantavirus infections, Central District Health Department spokesman Dave Fotsch said. A 49-year-old eastern Idaho man died of hantavirus in May.

"Those are red flags," he said. "It's obviously here in our area."

People should take precautions when cleaning out garages or cabins and should use a tent with a floor when camping, according to tips from the CDHD.

Pet owners do not need to be concerned about domestic rodents, Fotsch said.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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