In 2014, the New Mexico Department of Health identified 24 cases of West Nile Virus infection in people with one fatality. The department officials said that 810 trap samples were tested this season and 54 have been tested positive for the virus. Most patients with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

The majority of people who are infected with West Nile virus (approximately 80 percent) will have no symptoms at all.

West Nile is a virus carried in infected birds that can be spread to people by mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, skin rash and swollen glands. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water.

The health department says most West Nile virus infections in Wisconsin typically occur between June and September, and are transmitted to humans through a mosquito bite.

Commerce officials say they’ll continue testing for infected mosquitoes throughout town. The department reported a total of 16 cases of the virus statewide.

To protect themselves from mosquitoes, people should use an EPA-approved insect repellent every time they go outside such as those that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus/para-menthane-diol.

Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good fix.

To aid in eliminating mosquito breeding sites, it is encouraged to do away with any standing water from flower pots, buckets, barrels and other containers.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors for extended periods of time.

Keep wading pools empty when not in use and store them on their sides. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water.

Because there is no commercially available test for St. Louis encephalitis, and because of the rarity of the disease, testing performed by public health laboratories does not always give clear results.