‘Hard’ year for West Nile Virus in E. Washington

YAKIMA — State Veterinarian Dr. Leonard Eldridge expects West Nile virus to hit pretty hard this year.

He’s urging more control of mosquitos that carry the disease.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports there have already been 21 cases in horses in Benton, Yakima, Kittitas, Grant and Adams counties. Last year at this time there were eight horse cases statewide.

The state Health Department reports West Nile virus also has been confirmed in eight birds and more than 200 mosquito samples.

Yakima County health officials are monitoring six possible cases of the mosquito-borne infection in people, but none have been confirmed.

Information from: Yakima Herald-Republic, www.yakima-herald.com

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