DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says testing has confirmed the state’s first human cases of West Nile virus this summer.
The agency announced Wednesday that two cases of the disease were confirmed in northwest Iowa’s Sioux County.
Officials would only identify the victim as a girl aged 17 or younger and a man between the ages of 41 and 60. Both were hospitalized but are now recovering.
About 20 percent of people infected with the virus will have significant symptoms, including fever, aches and vomiting. The virus can occasionally lead to serious illnesses and even death. Iowa’s last deaths were in 2010, when two people died.
The public health department recommends people use insect repellent, avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, and wear long-sleeved shirts, pants and socks.
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