After experiencing a significant amount of rainfall to start the summer months, South Dakota has seen mosquito populations soar thanks to an abundance of standing water throughout the state.

With that increased presence of mosquitos comes a much higher likelihood of West Nile virus returning to the state.

And now it has.

Thursday (July 11), the South Dakota Department of Health confirmed the first human West Nile virus case of the 2024 season. It was reported by a resident of Beadle County. No other information was provided.

Last year, there were 92 human cases and three deaths in South Dakota. Nationwide there were 2,406 West Nile virus disease cases in 2023.

Since 2002, South Dakota has reported more than 2,843 human cases and 53 deaths related to the virus.

Mosquitio bites are the most common form of transmission of the virus. Symptoms of infection include:

  • Swelling of the brain and spinal cord
  • Stiff neck
  • Confusion
  • Muscle weakness
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The Department of Health advises taking the following precautions to reduce your chances of infection:

  • Apply mosquito repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, param-menthane-diol, or IR3535) to clothes and exposed skin
  • Limit exposure by wearing pants and long sleeves in the evening
  • Limit time outdoors from dusk to midnight when mosquitoes are most active
  • Remove standing water that gives mosquitoes a place to breed
  • Support local mosquito control efforts

To help combat the increased presence of mosquitos in the area, the City of Sioux Falls has announced plans to launch another community-wide mosquito spray this week.

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