KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Health officials in Kalamazoo County say they have had positive tests for West Nile Virus in several dead birds.
In addition, the first human case has been detected in a woman in Berrien County.
Published reports say the woman became ill in late July but it’s unclear if she was hospitalized.
So far the virus has been detected in Kent, Ottawa, Van Buren and now Berrien and Kalamazoo County.
This is the time of the year when the West Nile risk is highest.
Residents can avoid mosquitoes or better protect themselves by emptying out pools of water where they breed, use bug spray with DEET, wear light-colored clothes and long sleeves, and stay inside at dawn and dusk when the bugs are most active.
The majority of victims who have the most adverse effects are over 60.
