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N.D. (AP) – State health officials have confirmed the first human case of West Nile in North Dakota. The patient is a female in her 30s who resides in Grant County. She was not hospitalized for the illness.

Alicia Lepp, an epidemiologist with the North Dakota Department of Health, says the case is a reminder that people should protect themselves from mosquito bites. West Nile is spread through mosquitoes. Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, body aches and rash. In 2012, there were 89 human cases of West Nile virus reported in North Dakota.

Michelle? ?Feist? ?is? ?an? ?epidemiologist? ?with? ?the? ?North? ?Dakota? ?Department? ?of? ?Health.? ?Feist? ?says? ?more? ?and? ?more? ?culex? ?tarsalis? ?mosquitoes,? ?which? ?carry? ?the? ?virus,? ?are? ?being? ?found? ?-? ?and? ?she? ?says? ?that? ?is? ?typical? ?of? ?this? ?time? ?of? ?year.

Feist? ?says? ?even? ?though? ?populations? ?of? ?the? ?culex? ?tarsalis? ?mosquitoes? ?are? ?on? ?the? ?rise, you? ?can? ?still? ?protect? ?yourself? ?from? ?being? ?bitten? ?by? ?wearing? ?long? ?sleeves? ?and? ?pants? ?at? ?dawn? ?and? ?dusk,? ?and? ?by? ?using? ?effective? ?insect? ?repellent ?containing ?deet.