(Des Moines)– West Nile Virus has been detected in more northwest Iowa counties.
The Iowa Department of Health says as of late Thursday the virus has been confirmed in 49 counties…including Dickinson.
12 more counties were added to the list Thursday. Among them in northwest Iowa are Emmet, Osceola, Palo Alto, and Pocahontas counties.
No human cases of the virus have been reported yet in Iowa. But officials say two horses have been diagnosed with it…including one near Rock Valley. They’re being treated.
Horse owners are being urged to have their animals vaccinated.
Kevin Teale of the Iowa Department of Public Health says officials are coming under pressure to spray for mosquitoes. But he says they’re recommending that NOT be done. Teale says the spray poses more of a potential public health problem than the virus itself.
