NDDOH reports first West Nile-related death of 2017

"This death is a tragic reminder of how unsafe West Nile virus can be", Laura Cronquist, an epidemiologist with the North Dakota Department of Health, said in a statement. "This death is a tragic reminder of how unsafe West Nile virus can be".

West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Note: Chickens do not die from West Nile virus.

Up to 20 percent of people who become infected will have milder symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.

There is no specific treatment for the infection, the health district says, and the best way to avoid West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquito bites.

There have been six human cases in Colorado this year, but none in Mesa County. But the risk of contracting West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses is present any time mosquitoes are active. Of the 29, 12 have been hospitalized. In 2016, North Dakota had 85 cases with 28 cases hospitalized and two deaths.

-Use insect repellents containing ingredients registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - such as DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.