There have been two confirmed cases of La Crosse Viral Encephalitis in Polk County this summer.
Polk County Public Health Director Gretchen Sampson says the cases are yet another reminder that we need to police our properties for mosquito breeding habitats — stagnant water that collects in old tires or even the bottoms of flower pots.
The virus is a potentially severe disease that can affect the brain and spinal cord, and in some cases can be fatal. Sampson says one of the Polk County victims is recovering — but they haven't yet been able to contact the other.
