Vernon County West Nile Virus victim recovering

Thursday, October 16, 2003

Recently, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Section for Communicable Disease Prevention reported that in the early part of September, Vernon County reported a non-fatal human case of West Nile Virus. Beth Swopes, administrator for the Vernon County Health Department, said that once a person comes down with West Nile that there is not much that can be done besides treating the symptoms and that is why prevention is so important. There are many preventive measures that citizens can take to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile Virus next year. The primary step is to help cut down on the standing water where mosquitoes breed. Public safety officials recommend getting rid of tires, birdbath or old buckets -- anything that collects water. If there is no way of eliminating standing water or if the water is something necessary or desired, such as a backyard pool, add some larvacide to it. People can also protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved shirts when they go out during the evening hours or using bug spray. These measures will be especially important next year to prevent more cases in Vernon County. "We know the disease is in the area and once it's here it's here," said Swopes. Cases of West Nile Virus in humans are still rare. In 2002 Vernon County had no human cases but there were several dead birds and eight horses reported positive with West Nile Virus. This year, Nevada Veterinary Clinic received no reports of equine West Nile Virus. The Center for Disease Control reports that the West Nile Virus was first detected in North America in 1999. It is spread by contact with infected mosquitos. There are basically three strains of the disease, avian, equine, and human. The danger of West Nile Virus presents itself when it becomes encephalitis. This can result in a fever, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, nausea, and in very rare cases swelling of the brain or death. The likelihood that someone could become seriously ill or die from West Nile is small, but Swopes said that if someone's health is compromised then they are in more danger of the viruses more serious effects.

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