West Nile case total climbs up : News : MySouthwestGA.com

West Nile case total climbs up

Posted: 08.23.2012 at 2:05 AM

The FOX 31 News Team covers Southwest Georgia 24/7

Dougherty County Public Works employee Donnell Mathis checks a small pond for mosquito larvae. / File

ALBANY, GA -- The Southwest Health district in Georgia has now seen West Nile cases grow to 12 with three deaths so far this year.

In a press release issued by the Public Health department, Public Health officials are urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

“There have been an unusually high number of West Nile cases across the country and we are seeing the same trend here in our District,”
said Southwest Health District Health Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant.

“So far this season we have had 12 confirmed cases in people, including seven in Dougherty, two in Lee, one in Early, one in Mitchell, and one in Worth counties.”

Grant said three deaths of older adults have been related to West Nile virus infections. “Our sympathies go out to their families,” she said. “We wish there was a vaccine for this disease. Unfortunately, since we have no vaccine, the best protection is to avoid getting bitten by the mosquitoes that carry the infection.”

Public health officials say that the ways to reduce the risk of being bitten include:
- Avoid outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most active - at dawn and dusk
- Cover exposed skin if you must be outside
- Use insect repellent with active ingredients such as DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus or picaridin
- Drain standing water
- Repair screens

Around 80 percent of those infected with West Nile show no symptoms; while up to 20 percent have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a rash, she said.

“The older you are, the more likely that you could get severely ill if you get infected. People who have received an organ transplant are also at higher risk for severe disease,” Grant said. “Young children and people with compromised immune systems are also at increased risk.

One out of roughly 150 infected with West Nile virus develop serious symptoms.”

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus. People with severe cases are hospitalized and receive supportive care, such as intravenous fluids and respiratory treatment, Grant said.

Animals can also be infected with West Nile virus, and a horse in Seminole County has been confirmed with the disease, Grant said.

So far this year, a total of 693 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of those cases, 26 resulted in deaths, the CDC reported. This tally is the highest count of West Nile virus human cases for this time in August since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999, according to the CDC. Most of this season’s cases have been reported in Texas.

For more information about West Nile Virus, go online to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org. Additional information is available at www.cdc.gov.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; they are not reflective of the views or opinions of Barrington Broadcasting, Fox 31, its directors or employees. If you believe a comment violates the Barrington Terms of Use, please flag it above.

Popular Stories

Senior graduates after overcoming many obstacles
Courtney Highfield | Yesterday at 4:07 PM

ASU police officer set to deploy in June
Colby Gallagher | Yesterday at 9:00 PM | 3 comments

Armed robbers leave empty handed
Matt Prichard | Yesterday at 8:25 PM

Follow My Southwest GA

Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below

submit

Special Features

Legal

Finding the right lawyer to handle your needs is important.

Win a booster seat!

Click above for your chance to win a booster seat and get safety tips for your child!

Bright Side

Spreading the good news around Southwest Georgia!

Find it, click it, use it... your neighborhood business guide.

Latest Headlines

ASU police officer set to deploy in June
Updated with video; The Albany Police Department said goodbye to patrol office Marvin Jennings in February as he left for training camp, and now the officer is set to deploy to Afghanistan in June
read more »
Armed robbers leave empty handed
Albany Tech explains their financial aid process
Lotto surges towards 600 million
Hope Ministries revs up for event
Obesity weighs heavily on Tifton

Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia