First U.S. West Nile case of 2005 reported

Kansas has reported this year’s first human case of West Nile virus in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The virus, first reported in the Western Hemisphere in 1999, has been found in birds, mosquitoes or horses in 14 states, the CDC said. This means that mosquitoes can easily transmit the virus to people, it said.

“This season’s first human case of West Nile virus reminds us of the importance of taking precautions to avoid becoming ill,” said Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the CDC’s Division of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases.

“It’s impossible to predict what this year’s season will hold. So everyone who spends time outdoors should take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites and West Nile virus.”

The CDC did not release details on the Kansas patient.

West Nile, common in north Africa, parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, causes mild or no symptoms in most people it infects.

But it can cause a dangerous brain inflammation in some people, especially the elderly.

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Since it was first reported in New York in 1999, the virus has made nearly 17,000 Americans ill and killed more than 650. In 2004, 2,535 human cases and 98 deaths were reported to the CDC, with most cases in Western states.

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It has wiped out populations of crows, jays and similar birds who are susceptible and spread to every U.S. state except Alaska and Hawaii, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.

The CDC recommends wearing long sleeves and trousers to protect against mosquito bites, and using insect repellent.

“In addition to DEET and permethrin, repellents containing picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus have recently been found to provide reliable and long-lasting protection from mosquito bites,” the CDC said in a statement.