Residents of South Dakota are being cautioned by health officials that the peak season for West Nile virus (WNV) will extend till the end of August, and the movement of the virus has started to rise. State Epidemiologist for the Department of Health Dr. Lon Kightlinger revealed that the state is experiencing more than the usual rate of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile in 2016, along with the number of reported cases extending beyond the average of past 10 years.

Dr. Kightlinger added that it is more than extremely significant for people to ensure that they are using insect repellents to keep themselves safe. As of July 28, cases of 19 people being affected with West Nile have been reported in South Dakota, while the surveillance update from next week will reveal that the cases are continuously increasing.

Four cases were reported in Brown County, while two cases each were reported in Bookings, Minnehaha and Spink counties. Beadle, Codington, Davison, Douglas, Grant, Hamlin, Lincoln, McCook and Todd counties reported one case each. Brookings, Brown, Edmunds, Hughes, Lincoln and Minnehaha counties have been identified with presence of the mosquito.

Dr. Kightlinger explained that since the state is witnessing inexplicably higher rates of WNV cases, residents must take the following precautions to remain safe from the mosquito. First of all, mosquito repellents, like DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, must be used by residents. Residents must wear pants and long sleeves during the evening to avoid exposure.

Secondly, resident must try to avoid going out between dusk and midnight since it is the most active time for Culex mosquitoes, the main WNV carrier in the state. Thirdly, the residents must ensure that water is not left stagnant at any place, which will prevent breeding of mosquitoes. Finally, local mosquito control measures must be supported.

A report published in Republican Herald revealed, "The virus was detected in mosquitoes July 19 in Minersville, according to the state’s West Nile virus website, www.westnile.state.pa.us. Last year, the virus was found in the county Aug. 7 in Pine Grove Township and was detected in Pine Grove Borough."

To date, the virus has been found in 24 counties in the state. Of those, there has been one human case of the virus found in Indiana County in July. Twenty-two of those counties have mosquitoes that have tested positive for the virus. Two of the counties have dead birds that have tested positive with the virus.

West Nile virus is mostly spread by mosquitoes but also through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breast feeding and during pregnancy, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and can result in encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. Symptoms can show three to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.

According to a report in Coloradoan by Nick Coltrain, "The word Zika stirred a fear across the Americas over the past year, and then the world when ground zero for the virus became the host city of the 2016 Olympics, which start this week."

Then, Congress got involved. Colorado's senators — Democratic Rep. Michael Bennet, who is up for re-election this year, and Republican Sen. Cory Gardner — each backed a bill for an additional $1.1 billion to fund research into the disease. Until they didn't.

Their partisan split was reflected in a filibuster of the bill. The House of Representatives passed a bill that cut $750 million from other health programs to offset the price tag on the original Senate measure. Democrats opposed at the spending cuts, as well as restrictions on funding birth control services at Planned Parenthood and relaxed laws governing pesticides in water, according to USA TODAY.