West Nile Virus Kills Iowa Man

Iowa has more than double the number of confirmed cases it had at this time last year, and the virus has killed its first Iowan in six years.

In a new release today, the Iowa Public Health Department announced the first death from the West Nile virus in Iowa since 2010. According to the release, the person was at least 81 and lived in northwest Iowa.

Iowa has 33 confirmed cases of the West Nile virus in 2016. That's more than twice the number on this date in 2015 and more are being investigated. Around one in five people that have the virus end up with major symptoms like vomiting, aches, and/or fever.

Admittedly mosquito season is, for the most part, behind us. However, the CDC recommends using repellents with DEET, picaridin, or IR3535. They also say some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.

[via WQAD and Centers for Disease Control]