West Nile Watch Underway in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Officials around North Dakota have started surveillance activity for the West Nile virus.

State Health Department offcials say activities include reporting and testing of sick horses and dead birds, trapping and testing of mosquitoes, and monitoring of illness in people.

State health officials have been monitoring the mosquito-borne virus since 2002 and cases have been reported in every county in North Dakota.

Last year, there were 127 West Nile virus cases in humans and two deaths.