West Nile virus has claimed its fifth Utahn this season. Murray resident Arla Heaton, 74, died Sunday after battling complications of the mosquito-borne virus for a month.
Hers was the first West Nile virus death ever recorded in Salt Lake County. Two Utah County residents as well as one each in Weber and Carbon counties also died from West Nile.
Heaton died after the regular West Nile virus season had ended, although she contracted the disease while mosquito activity was still high.
“Sometimes what happens is someone is exposed, but they are sick for a while,” said Salt Lake Valley Health Department’s Terri Sory.
State and local health officials are no longer doing West Nile surveillance. About mid-September, the mosquitoes that carry the virus switch from biting people and animals to storing up sugars to help them get through the winter.
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