First we worry about diseases from ticks. Now, the West Nile virus has been found in an Eastern Idaho mosquito. With flooding comes mosquitoes. This is why we need to pay attention.

West Nile comes from a mosquito who is infected. It can't be spread from casual human contact. A lot of us have a severe reaction to mosquito bites so if anything swells or we don't feel amazing with bites all over our body, we don't really think about it. We chalk it up to the fact that we got bit and our body hates it.

Symptoms of West Nile Virus Infection

Pay close attention. If you have been bitten by a mosquito who is infected with West Nile virus, the symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Skin rash (sometimes)
• Swollen lymph glands (sometimes)

Not to be dramatic but I can't leave it out that the result of infection of the West Nile virus could be death. It can affect people of any age but especially in people over the age of 50 or those with other underlying medical conditions. This from westnile.idaho.gov.

How to Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites

If we could avoid getting mosquito bites, we would. Nobody likes to get that itchy bump that is more annoying than almost anything in life. There are ways to protect yourself.

• Wear repellent. Make sure it contains DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus - according to the label.
• Get rid of all standing water around your home. Yes, this includes bird baths, buckets with water, bowls or that cooler from your camping trip that you'll "get back to" and clean out.
• Cover your skin with clothing between dusk and dawn. While you may have to choose between dripping with sweat or fending off mosquitoes, avoiding the West Nile virus is a better option.
• Replace screens around the house or doors

Health officials have seen the first West Nile infected mosquito in Bannock County on June 1st of this year.