[StBernard] St. Bernard resident becomes first victim of West Nile virus this year, says health department

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard resident becomes first victim of West Nile virus this year, says
health department

Published: Friday, June 22, 2012, 1:11 PM     Updated: Friday, June 22,
2012, 1:12 PM

 By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune 

In a year that has seen a mosquito population boom due a mild winter and
soggy spring, it's not surprising that the state's first case of West Nile
virus in a human has come earlier than normal. The case was confirmed
Thursday in St. Bernard Parish, state health officials said Friday.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals spokesman Ken Pastorick said
the individual did not exhibit any signs of the illness. He said the state
does not identify West Nile virus victims.

"In this case, the person was a blood donor and they found out that way,
otherwise they wouldn't have known that they had the disease at all,"
Pastorick said.

State epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard said the first human case of the
virus typically is not reported until around mid-July each year.

About 90 percent of all cases are asymptomatic and only about 10 percent
will develop West Nile fever, according to the state health department. A
West Nile fever commonly results in only mild, flu-like symptoms.

Only a very small number of infected individuals will show the most serious
symptoms that involve swelling of the brain or spinal cord. The elderly have
a higher risk for complications, but everyone is at risk for infection.

So far this year, positive West Nile samples have overwhelmingly been from
the southern house mosquito, but Asian tiger mosquitoes are also common to
the area and capable of transmitting the virus.

This year, area mosquitoes emerged about six weeks earlier than normal. And
then recent drought-like conditions have caused more mosquitoes and birds to
seek out the same water sources and that increased interaction leads to a
higher probability of virus transmission between the species, according to
health officials.

Often infected mosquitoes bite the birds, infecting them. Then, other
mosquitoes bite infected birds and become infected themselves, leading to
the viruses further spread.

Similar to parishes throughout the metro area, St. Bernard Parish released a
statement on Friday explaining that the parish uses many different methods
to reduce mosquitoes, including truck spraying and flights over congested
areas. The Louisiana State University Veterinary School also conducts weekly
mosquito pool tests.

St. Bernard Parish President David Peralta encouraged residents "to take the
necessary precautions to protect themselves."

Pastorick said that last year, the state recorded 12 cases of West Nile
virus, the lowest in the decade the disease has been tracked. The highest
number of cases came in 2002, he said, when 328 cases were reported, the
first year tracking began.

Ratard said that since West Nile is spread to humans through mosquito bites,
"no matter what time of year it is, and no matter how active the seasons, it
is important for residents to take preventive steps to control the mosquito
population near and around homes and play areas, and try to avoid being
bitten by mosquitoes."

He recommended adults wearing mosquito repellent of 20 to 30 percent DEET
when outside for long periods, and no more than 10 percent DEET for
children. Public health officers also recommend repellents containing
picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long
paints when outdoors for an extended period of time.

Pastorick said residents also should check window screens that might have
holes in them and that mosquitoes often breed in containers commonly found
in yards. Homeowners therefore are advised to comb their yards to discard
any containers that might collect water and become breeding grounds.

Pastorick said people should be especially cautious at dusk, when the most
mosquitoes swarm.

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