WAHPETON - Officials in Wahpeton have confirmed West Nile virus in at least one pool of mosquitoes, according to North Dakota Health Department officials.
The virus was found in Richland County in far southeast North Dakota Wednesday and reported to the Health Department Thursday, said Laura Cronquist, an epidemiologist with the Health Department.
The state's first human case of West Nile virus was confirmed last week in a 40-year-old McLean County resident. McLean County is in central North Dakota just north of Bismarck and along Lake Sakakawea.
Two mosquito pools in Grand Forks County were also found to have the virus last week.
Cronquist said the state has reported one case every year for more than a decade around the end of July or beginning of August.
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To avoid mosquito bites, officials recommend long sleeves and pants. Cronquist said people should also use bug spray containing DEET to ward off mosquitos.
