CHEYENNE (WNE) — The Wyoming Department of Health is reminding residents to be cautious about mosquito bites due to ongoing West Nile virus activity.

As of Thursday, 11 people have been reported with WNV, including six with severe disease and one death.

“We are still seeing a lot of WNV activity in Wyoming,” said Courtney Tillman, epidemiologist at the WDH, in a WDH news release. “We want to remind everyone to take steps to prevent mosquito bites.”

WNV has been detected in mosquitoes, animals and humans throughout the state, but the eastern half of the state is seeing high levels of WNV activity.

Most people who are infected with WNV will not develop symptoms and may never know they were infected. About 20% of people will develop mild symptoms, including fever, headache and body aches. A small number of people (less than 1%) will develop serious illness, which can include inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Severe illness can include neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, numbness and paralysis. Severe illness typically requires hospitalization and can result in death.

Anyone can develop mild or severe illness if they are infected with WNV. However, the risk of illness increases with age or for those who have a chronic medical condition such as a weakened immune system, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.

The WDH urges clinicians to consider WNV disease in patients with flu-like symptoms or unexplained neurological symptoms.

Information from the WDH about WNV can be found at badskeeter.org.