STATE
HEALTH OFFICIALS REPORT
HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS
JULY 5 2005
INDIANAPOLIS---State health officials
report that an Allen County resident is
the first human case of West Nile virus
infection in Indiana this year.
"We expected to see human cases of West
Nile virus again this year," said James
Howell, DVM, veterinary epidemiologist
with the Indiana State Department of
Health. "We had already seen evidence of
West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes."
In addition to this human case, three
pools of mosquitoes have tested positive
for West Nile virus in Marion County so
far this year. Additional testing on a
mosquito pool in Floyd County, which
originally tested positive, later
determined that the pool was actually
negative.
West Nile virus is transmitted to a
human by a mosquito that has first
bitten an infected bird. A person who is
bitten by an infected mosquito may show
symptoms from three to 15 days after the
bite.
The virus usually causes a milder form
of illness, West Nile fever, which can
include fever, headache, body aches,
swollen lymph glands, or a rash.
However, a small number of individuals
can develop a more severe form of the
disease with encephalitis or meningitis
and other neurological syndromes,
including a flaccid muscle paralysis.
Health officials recommend that Hoosiers
avoid being outdoors during prime
mosquito biting times, dusk to dawn,
when possible. Individuals are also
advised to take the following protective
steps when they are outdoors:
Apply insect repellent containing DEET,
picaradin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to
clothes and exposed skin; and Wear
long-sleeved shirts and pants.
State health officials are also asking
Hoosiers to take steps to rid their
properties of potential mosquito
breeding grounds by:
Repairing failed septic systems
Drilling holes in the bottom of
recycling containers that are left
outdoors
Keeping grass cut short and shrubbery
trimmed
Disposing of old tires, tin cans,
plastic containers, ceramic pots or
other unused containers that can hold
water
Cleaning clogged roof gutters,
particularly if leaves tend to plug up
the drains
Aerating ornamental pools, or stock them
with predatory fish
Health officials report that although
individuals over age 50 are at greatest
risk for serious illness and even death
from West Nile virus, people of all ages
have been infected with the virus and
have had severe disease.
Daily updates on positive results for
West Nile virus and a virus surveillance
map are available on the State
Department of Health's Web site, at
www.in.gov/isdh
Watch for
updated West Nile Virus information to
be posted on this website or call (812)
689-5751 Extension 296.
Our email address is:
Westnile Information.
Pat Thomas
Environmental Division
Ripley County Health Department |
