South Dakota

South Dakota reported fewer West Nile virus cases than officials expected in 2025. What happened?

Published

3 months ago

November 19, 2025

South Dakota reported fewer West Nile virus cases than officials expected in 2025. What happened?

With 87 cases of West Nile virus reported in 2025, South Dakota seems to have avoided the widespread outbreak experts anticipated earlier in the year.

In July, shortly after the first human case of 2025 was detected, the South Dakota Department of Health released a report projecting more than 130 cases for the year. That would have been the most in a single year for the state since 2018, when 169 cases were detected.

However, Joshua Clayton, South Dakota’s state epidemiologist, told the Argus Leader that a combination of factors helps explain why there were fewer cases than expected.

“Weather patterns likely played a significant role, as stretches of hot, dry conditions can reduce mosquito survival and limit the opportunity for transmission,” Clayton said. “City and county mosquito control programs also contributed through consistent management efforts throughout the season.”

The willingness of residents to protect themselves by using bug spray and limiting time outside during peak mosquito hours likely helped limit infections too, Clayton said.

Sanford Health to build new Black Hills Medical Center with $300 million gift

The majority of this year’s cases happened in East River counties, which Clayton said matches a “long-standing transmission pattern” in the state. The region also gets more rain and has more wetlands and other low-lying places that create “ideal breeding areas for mosquitoes,” he added.

“Human factors add to this pattern, since eastern South Dakota has more residents, which increases the chance of exposure and increases the likelihood that cases will be detected and reported,” Clayton said.

South Dakota reported four deaths from West Nile virus in 2025. That matches the total from 2023, when 96 human cases were detected in the state, a health department report says. Nationally, 46 states had, as of Nov. 18, reported a total of 1,941 human cases of West Nile virus this year, according to the CDC.

What are the symptoms of West Nile virus?

Most people infected with West Nile virus don’t develop any symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, about one in five people develop a fever and other symptoms, and about one out of 150 people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

When it becomes a serious illness, symptoms can include: high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness or paralysis.

What are the best ways to prevent West Nile virus?

The health department says to take the following precautions to prevent mosquito bites and West Nile virus:

Apply mosquito repellents to clothes and exposed skin, and limit exposure by wearing pants and long sleeves in the evening.
Limit time outside between dusk and midnight, when mosquitoes are most active.
Remove standing water, which provides mosquitoes with a breeding ground. Routinely change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes, and drain water from flowerpots and other.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life winning numbers for March 3, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 3 drawing

09-10-13-25-54, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South Dakota

Nebraska volleyball to play regular-season match in South Dakota

Published

14 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska volleyball to play regular-season match in South Dakota

Nebraska volleyball will play South Dakota State in a regular-season match in Brookings, S.D. The Huskers will face the Jackrabbits on September 2 at First Bank & Trust Arena.

Nebraska finished 2025 with a 33-1 overall record and was ranked No. 3 in the final AVCA poll of the season. South Dakota State was 23-5 and was the Summit League regular-season champions.

These two programs have faced each other before. They played a spring exhibition match in May 2025. The Huskers were victorious by a 4-0 sweep (25-18, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19).

Harper Murray led the Huskers in kills with 12, while also earning seven digs, five blocks and two aces. Andi Jackson delivered a double-double on the day, finishing with 11 kills and 10 blocks.

Nebraska is scheduled to play two exhibition games this spring. The Huskers will face Iowa State in Sioux Falls, S.D. on April 11 and Creighton in Omaha on April 17.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire (https://twitter.com/CornhuskersWire) on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebook (https://www.facebook.com/CornhuskersWire) to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for March 2, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing

02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from March 2 drawing

03-08-17-24-34, Star Ball: 06, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 2 drawing

28-41-42-50-55, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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