Fall’s cooler temperatures are diminishing the threat of West Nile virus in Clallam and Jefferson counties, but officials say the North Olympic Peninsula could see its first cases in humans and birds by next year.
Mosquitoes — the carriers of the potentially fatal virus — are beginning to die or lie dormant for the winter, lowering the threat of the virus spreading, Dr. Tom Locke, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, said Friday.
“Generally, September is the peak risk period for West Nile virus transmission,” Locke said. “And then it starts to drop off after that.”
The only case of the virus originating in Washington state was confirmed Oct. 2 in a dead raven collected near Newport, northeast of Spokane.
“It’s highly probable that the virus will reach the bird population on the Olympic Peninsula next year,” Locke said. “Once it’s in birds, that’s when it becomes a human threat.”
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