two summers ago, my dad randomly got bit while out on a fishing trip and came down with the west nile virus.  ever since he’s been dealing with the reoccuring symptoms…  there is no treatment for the virus, just the effects and when you’re talking about fever, body aches, muscle weakness it’s no walk in the park (i’m not even going to think about the possibility of disorientation, coma tremors, convulsions, or paralysis that they mentioned).

from an article about west nile in the seattle times, it looks like seattle only had 3 human cases last year (and one of the last states in the nation to have human cases), but the midwest has been hit hard since west nile seems to flourish in hot climates (where the mosquito larvae need to hatch).

West Nile is spread to humans when mosquitoes bite an infected bird, then bite a person. The insects are most active in early morning and at dusk and are drawn to the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath as well as sweat and body odors to collect their “blood meal.” Insect repellents containing DEET are effective in keeping them away.

be sure to take your bug spray with you this summer!  yikes!