PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The South Dakota Department of Health confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus Thursday.  That case was confirmed in Beadle County in a person over 64 years-old.  West Nile is transmitted by mosquitoes and Pierre Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Tipton says the city has been doing what it can to keep skeeters at bay.

Tipton says Pierre also does some mosquito mitigation within Hughes County.  Traps are one of the key gauges in determining when it’s time to fog things out.

Tipton says in the end the skeeters will have the final word.

Brookings County is the only county with a confirmed mosquito pool with West Nile Virus.  Since West Nile Virus was first confirmed in the state 22 years ago there have be over 28-hundred cases and 53 deaths from the virus.

The Department of Health offered the following suggestions for reducing your risk:

• Apply mosquito repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone, param-menthane-diol, or IR3535) to clothes and exposed skin. Limit exposure by wearing pants and long sleeves in the evening;
• Limit time outdoors from dusk to midnight when mosquitoes are most active. Culex tarsalis are the primary carrier of WNV in South Dakota;
• Remove standing water that gives mosquitoes a place to breed. Regularly change the water in birdbaths, outside pet dishes, and drain water from other flowerpots and garden containers and stay away from areas near standing water; and
• Support local mosquito control efforts.

Those at high risk for contracting West Nile include people over 50, pregnant women, organ transplant patients, individuals with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease, and those with a history of alcohol abuse, according to the DOH. People with severe or unusual headaches should see their physicians.

“This year, nearly 200 South Dakota cities, counties and tribes will share $500,000 in grants intended to control mosquitoes and prevent West Nile virus,” added Dr. Clayton.

Visit the department’s website for more information about West Nile.

The department’s surveillance page includes which counties have reported cases.