Deaths linked to West Nile

BOISE – West Nile virus has likely contributed to the deaths of at least three people in Idaho this summer, state health officials said Friday, and at least 54 people have been sickened by the disease.

A man from Elmore County and a Lincoln County woman, both over the age of 70, recently died after contracting West Nile virus, Department of Health and Welfare spokesman Tom Shanahan said. Neither of their names was released.

Rocco Magliozzi, 12, of Norwood, Mass., died July 28 at a Boise hospital after contracting both West Nile virus – a mosquito-borne virus – and Rocky Mountain spotted fever – a tick-borne virus, Shanahan said. Officials believe the boy was bitten by both insects while attending summer camp in southern Idaho.

It’s the first year that Idaho officials know of any West Nile-related fatalities in humans, Shanahan said.