West Nile seems to target Utah County

PROVO — Utah County seems to be a focal point for West Nile virus cases this year despite stepped-up mosquito abatement efforts.

There have been three confirmed Utah County cases of the virus in humans, including two children, this year. All three involved the more invasive form of the virus that can also include encephalitis or meningitis.

Most West Nile cases go undetected because symptoms are similar to those of flu and similar diseases for which people often forgo doctor visits and simply weather the aches and pains until they go away.

"We've kind of been wracking our brains," said Utah County Health Department spokesman Lance Madigan. "In some ways we have a more active mosquito abatement group than other parts of the state."

The number of mosquito groups, called pools, tested by state health officials is higher than those submitted for testing from other counties, Madigan said.

"At one point, our numbers were three and four times (higher than) the other parts of the state," Madigan said.

The 20-year-old mosquito abatement program in Utah County runs year-round and targets the different life stages of a mosquito. The abatement program is paired with a public education effort that encourages the wearing of long-sleeved tops and using repellents containing DEET during the most susceptible periods of the year.

Most of the abatement effort involves using trucks equipped with spray equipment. That allows workers to be more specific in targeting problem areas, Madigan said. Efforts have been redoubled in areas where West Nile has been identified in humans, horses and sentinel chickens.

"We have a couple full-time (employees) through the entire year; in the summertime, they bring on additional staff," Madigan said.

In April, mosquito abatement employees begin taking blood samples from flocks of sentinel chickens that are strategically placed throughout the county. The blood is tested for West Nile, Madigan said.

Chickens are tested throughout the summer "until we start losing the mosquito counts. It depends on weather conditions," Madigan said.

Inspectors also look for mosquito pools and standing water with larvae. Larvae are destroyed using pellets about the size of sand grains, spread evenly over ponds or fields.