North Dakota is on track for more human West Nile virus cases than last year.
So far this season the state Department of Health has confirmed 110 cases in 35 counties. Twenty to 30 new cases a week have been reported for the past three weeks.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we had more cases than in 2006," said Michelle Feist, the state's West Nile virus surveillance coordinator. There is about a month left in the season, which ends with the first hard frost, she said.
The state had 137 confirmed cases and one death last year. That was the second-highest number ever in North Dakota. At this time last year, there were 39 cases reported in 15 counties.
"This year it's more widespread," Feist said.
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The West Nile virus season started in June, a few weeks earlier than in previous years. The mosquito species that can carry the virus has been abundant all summer.
General mosquito counts in Cass County have been low the past couple of weeks, said Angela Balint, director of the county's Vector Control.
The department recently sprayed for mosquitoes after some trapped insects tested positive for West Nile virus, she said. She estimates about 50 percent to 60 percent of mosquitoes caught in carbon dioxide traps are of the vector species.
West Nile is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes fever, head and body aches and rashes. North Dakota saw its first human case in 2002. The next year there were 617 cases.
Minnesota has 21 confirmed cases of human West Nile this year.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Erin Hemme Froslie at (701) 241-5534
