Health Advisory: First Nile Virus Cases Identified in Lucas County for 2005
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Health Advisory: First Nile Virus Cases Identified in Lucas County for 2005
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The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, in coordination with our local hospitals, has identified the first two West Nile virus (WNV) cases in Lucas County residents for the 2005 mosquito season. Both individuals are females, ages 63 and 76. Each case was diagnosed with encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and had positive laboratory results for WNV infection.
Most people infected with WNV will not have any signs of illness, with only about 20% of the people infected developing symptoms. Of these, most will only develop mild symptoms including fever, headache, and body aches, often with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. A very small number of people (about one in 150 people infected) will actually develop the more severe symptoms of headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and can affect people, horses, birds and some other animals. People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.
Although mosquito populations are beginning to diminish, WNV infection can still occur during the fall months. As Dr. Grossman states, “these late summer cases emphasize the importance of continuing to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites.” The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to use insect repellent when outdoors, wear long sleeves and light colored clothing, limit outdoor activity during dawn and dusk hours, eliminate standing water around your house, empty water every 2-3 days from pet dishes and bird baths, clean and maintain gutters, and maintain screens around doors and windows. Additional information about WNV can be obtained from the following websites:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
http://www.co.lucas.oh.us/Health/WestNile_main.asp
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