West Nile Virus Prevention & Education

West Nile Virus Prevention & Education *Update* (September 2012)

There have been recent media reports of high levels of the West Nile Virus (WNV) disease reported in the United States.  So far this year in Oregon there have been 2 cases of WNV disease reported: one in Coos County and the other in Malheur County.  WNV has also been found in birds, horses and mosquitos in Oregon.  Again, none of these cases have occurred in the Willamette Valley region.

Between 2004 and 2009 Oregon had 141 cases of West Nile Virus (2006 had highest year with 73 diagnosed cases). During that period Oregon reported 21 “neuroinvasive” cases and 2 deaths attributed to West Nile Virus (2006 and 2007). West Nile Virus can also affect horses, chickens, and birds.  There were no human cases of WNV in 2010 or 2011.

For more information on West Nile Virus and how to better protect yourself and our community from this disease, go to the Oregon Health Authority website, West Nile Virus Prevention and Education.