Rare and new mosquito-borne virus detected in Salt Lake County
Originally Published 4 months ago — by KUTV
Health officials in Salt Lake County have detected the rare St. Louis encephalitis virus in local mosquitoes for the first time, a virus similar to West Nile but less common in the U.S., with most infections being asymptomatic or mild, and no reported fatalities in Utah. The virus has been previously found in other parts of Utah, but this is its first detection in Salt Lake County mosquitoes, prompting health advisories to prevent mosquito bites.