Western Iowans face the greatest risk of contracting West Nile virus, according to a recently published study from Iowa State University medical entomologists.The study examined 15 years of data collected by mosquito surveillance efforts led by the ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory. It determined that the mosquito most likely to carry the illness thrives in western Iowa, especially along the Missouri River.One in 5 people bitten by an infected mosquito comes down with West Nile virus, in which patients may develop a fever, head and body aches, joint pain or a rash.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 1 in every 150 cases becomes serious and sometimes even fatal."It's a reminder to Iowans that this virus is here and probably isn't going away anytime soon," said Ryan Smith, assistant professor of entomology and director of the Medical Entomology Laboratory.The intensity of West Nile virus infection in humans and mosquitoes usually peaks in early September.