Move Over COVID, West Nile Virus Comes to Benton County

Just about every living thing enjoys a little company and I guess it's no different for a virus. While this is nothing to go screaming into the woods about, several cases of West Nile virus have popped up in Benton and Yakima counties according to reports. It's not really unusual for this time of year, just a heads-up about mosquito activity because generally, that's how it's spread. Only about 1 in 150 people who are infected with West Nile virus become seriously ill according to the Center for Disease Control. High fever and headache are West Nile symptoms, but that usually also accompanies COVID-19 infections. The good news is that 8 out of 10 people who get West Nile don't even show any symptoms at all. The bad news is that 1 out of 10  people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die. Just in case you thought 2020 was going to ease up and forget everything...apparently not!