The good news is that at the time of writing, no humans in Iowa have yet tested positive for the West Nile virus.

Mosquitos on the other hand have been found containing the virus in central Iowa. According to KCRG, mosquitoes were trapped at a park in West Ames sometime in mid-July. The park where these mosquitoes were found is sprayed or fogged every Wednesday night. Some of these mosquitoes contained the West Nile virus.

Is this something you should worry about?

Unsplash - Cameron Webb
Unsplash - Cameron Webb
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How Serious is West Nile Virus?

According to Hopkins Medicine, humans get West Nile from the bite of an infected mosquito. Most of the time, the West Nile virus causes no symptoms or only mild, flue-like, symptoms.

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If you are infected with the West Nile virus, there's a decent chance you won't be aware of it. However, it would be best if you got medical care for any of these serious symptoms. To be fair...you're probably going to the doctor for most of these anyway, regardless if you think it's West Nile or not. It's hard to imagine not going to the doctor if you start to lose your vision.

  • High Fever
  • Severe Headache
  • Stiff Neck
  • Confusion
  • Vision Loss
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Numbness
  • Paralysis
  • Tremors
  • Seizures

While you're probably going to be okay if infected with the virus, it can cause life-limiting illnesses and there is no vaccine to prevent West Nile. The best step you can take is the prevent mosquito bites.

You can use mosquito repellent, and wear long sleeve shirts and pants when possible. The early evening is when mosquitos are most active so you can stay inside if you're worried about being bitten. Mosquitoes also like to lay eggs around standing water, so it's advised to limit or get rid of standing water sources around your home.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own. 

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

LOOK: States sending the most people to Iowa

Stacker compiled a list of states where the most people are moving to Iowa using data from the Census Bureau.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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