Salt Lake County, UT – The Salt Lake County Health Department has announced the first human case of West Nile virus for 2025. An individual was hospitalized with a severe form but is now recovering at home.
Three mosquito abatement districts in Salt Lake County have also tested positive for the disease. Statewide, over 100 mosquito samples have been found to carry the virus.
Health officials are urging residents to take precautions due to the potential for mosquitoes to travel long distances. The virus is typically spread by certain mosquito species and carried primarily by birds.
Symptoms of West Nile virus can include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. In severe cases, symptoms may be life-threatening, including high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, or seizures.
The health department is reminding residents to use insect repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and to wear protective clothing when outdoors during peak mosquito hours. They also recommend draining standing water around homes, keeping roof gutters clear, and cleaning up tall grass and weeds.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that humans are “dead-end hosts” for the virus, meaning they do not spread it to mosquitoes. However, pregnant women, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those over 50 years old are at higher risk of developing symptoms.
Source: https://www.deseret.com/lifestyle/2025/08/14/salt-lake-county-first-human-west-nile-virus-2025