A 42-year-old female from Union County is South Dakota’s first human West Nile Virus death of 2021.
The South Dakota Health Department is encouraging residents to take the necessary precautions to avoid contracting West Nile Virus. Simple, yet key mitigation strategies, like avoiding areas with sitting water and evening outdoor activities during mosquito season, can reduce risk.
South Dakota has historically had a disproportionately high number of West Nile Virus cases compared to other states
The state’s first human case was reported in 2001. Since then, South Dakota has reported 2,624 human cases and 47 deaths.
