A VIRUS THAT CAN TURN DEADLY IS NOW IN BERNALILLO COUNTY. PAUL SMITH IS WITH THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HE TELLS US THERE'S NOW A CONFIRMED CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN THE COUNTY … THE FIRST THIS YEAR. SO FAR THIS YEAR, NEW MEXICO HAS HAD FOUR CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS.
THE CASE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY IS THAT OF A 60 YEAR OLD MAN WHO CAME DOWN WITH ENCEPHALITIS, THE MORE SEVERE FORM OF THE VIRUS. HE REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. SMITH ALSO TELLS US THEY'VE FOUND THE VIRUS IN MOSQUITOS THAT WERE RECENTLY TRAPPED AND TESTED.
