North Dakota health officials reported the state’s first West Nile virus-related death of the season, involving a resident over the age of 60 from the southwestern part of the state, according to North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS).
West Nile Virus Cases and Risk Factors in North Dakota
As of Thursday, September 9, North Dakota recorded 25 human cases of West Nile virus across 14 counties, according to HHS data. Out of those infected, 14 individuals required hospitalization. HHS notes that individuals aged 60 and older, people with underlying health conditions, and those taking immunosuppressive medications face the highest risk of developing severe, potentially life-threatening illness from the virus.
By comparison, North Dakota tracked 86 total cases and two virus-related deaths during the previous year. While transmission typically peaks in late summer, state health officials emphasize that infection risks persist until a hard frost eliminates remaining mosquito populations.
Prevention and Mosquito Control Guidance
According to HHS, no vaccine or specific targeted treatment exists for West Nile virus, making bite prevention the primary defense against infection. State health officials recommend several practical steps for residents:
- Apply insect repellents registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) containing active ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD, 2-undecanone, or permethrin for clothing.
- Wear protective outdoor clothing, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks.
- Limit outdoor exposure between dusk and dawn, the peak biting hours for mosquitoes that carry the virus.
- Eliminate stagnant water sources around residential properties where mosquitoes breed, including gutters, buckets, flower pots, old tires, wading pools, and birdbaths.
- Repair or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
Historical Context and National Spread
Initially misdiagnosed as St. Louis encephalitis during a Queens cluster of brain swelling cases among elderly patients, the outbreak was identified as West Nile virus after investigators noted widespread dead crows and other birds.
While the CDC estimates that roughly 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus experience no symptoms, the virus can cause severe neurological disease or flu-like symptoms in vulnerable populations, particularly young children and older adults. In the decades following the 1999 New York outbreak—which involved 56 confirmed cases—the virus moved steadily westward across the country, establishing seasonal transmission cycles in states like North Dakota.
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