An elderly woman in Canyon County has become Idaho’s third confirmed victim of West Nile Virus.

The woman, in her seventies was not hospitalized and is recovering. Two other Idaho cases of West Nile Virus have been confirmed in Payette and Bonneville counties, while three separate positive mosquito pools have been discovered in Canyon, Gem and Elmore counties – all in the southwestern portion of the state.

An eastern Idaho man in his 30s has tested positive for the West Nile Virus in Bonneville County.

This is the first case of West Nile Virus in the Eastern Idaho Public Health District’s eight-county region this year and the second human case of the disease in Idaho - the other case involved a teenage girl in Payette County in southwest Idaho. Neither case required hospitalization and both victims are recovering.

Although these are the first cofirmed cases of West Nile Virus in Idaho this year, health district officials expect cases of the disease to continue throughout the summer.

West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and is not spread from person-to-person or from infected animals to people. To protect themselves, people are advised to avoid mosquitoes when they are most active, between dusk and dawn; wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors during active mosquito hours and use insect repellent. (AP)

With summer here and more and more people spending time outdoors, the Washington State Department of Health is urging the public to take steps to avoid mosquitoes that may carry West Nile Virus. Tim Church, Communications Director with the health department says the best way to prevent contracting West Nile Virus is to avoid being bitten at all.

Tim Church, communications director, comments

While most people bitten by infected mosquitoes don’t become ill, some may have mild to severe flu-like symptoms. A small number of people may develop a serious neurological disease. People over 50 and those with compromised or weakened immune systems are at greater risk for serious illness. For more information contact the nearest state health department.