By KBCI Web Staff
BOISE - A man is suing the state of Idaho as well as Ada County for $3 million claiming it failed to educate him about the West Nile virus.

Officials say a Jerry Glenn Hayes is the man behind the suit.

"Ada County and several other government state agencies have been named in a lawsuit filed by a gentleman who claims not enough was done to protect him during the 2006 West Nile virus outbreak," said Laura Wylde, public information specialist for Ada County.

Wylde said Friday that the county is not obligated to comment on active litigation, however, she did release the county's West Nile virus education efforts.

"We issued 32 news releases and held dozens of news conferences, all of which generated hours of news coverage throughout the valley," Wylde said.

"Realizing the very real dangers West Nile poses, we even further expanded our public outreach efforts in 2007 and 2008. At the height of the WNV outbreak in 2006, Ada County disseminated thousands of fight the bite brochures and even developed a special Web site citizens could use to track positive West Nile virus cases in their neighborhoods. While it is difficult to control an uncontrollable pest, Ada County has taken extraordinary measures to protect its citizens."

A hearing about the lawsuit is scheduled for next week.