August 28, 2012

From:  Roeanne Peppard, Health District Information Aide, 361-826-7292; email RoeanneP@cctexas.com

Contact Person:  William Burgin, Jr., M.D., Local Health Authority, 633-1324 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT FOR NUECES COUNTY RESIDENTS

            The Corpus Christi – Nueces County Public Health District reports that it has received confirmation of the first West Nile death in a human from the Texas Department of State Health Services.  This is the first confirmed death of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Nueces County in 2012.  Nueces County has been upgraded to Risk Level 4, indicating that the probability of human outbreak of WNV is at a higher risk.

            According to health officials, the patient was a female between the ages of 45 and 60 who was hospitalized locally and then transferred to a neighboring city hospital due to co-morbidities.  The patient’s condition worsened and patient expired on Monday, August 27, 2012.

Dr.  William Burgin, Jr., Local Health Authority, alerts all residents to take necessary preventative measures to lower their risk.   “Stay indoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitos are most active.  If you must be outdoors during these times, dress in pants and long-sleeves and apply insect repellent that contains DEET”, states Dr. Burgin.

            According to Dr. Mobley, Local Health Authority for San Patricio County, “WNV risk is high between neighboring counties even though we have not had a positive human case”.  Because mosquitos can travel on people, in vehicles, etc., Dr. Mobley is advising San Patricio citizens as well as neighboring counties to follow the listed precautions.

            West Nile Virus is a disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, rather than

by person-to-person contact.  In Texas, there have been 783 human cases reported of West Nile Virus and a total of 31 deaths in 2012.  Nueces County has had three human cases and one death in 2012.

Health Officials advise residents to follow the 4 Ds:

• Dusk and Dawn are the times of day to avoid outdoor activities
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outside
• DEET is an ingredient to look for in an insect repellent
• Drain standing water in old tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters

Residents can keep mosquitoes outside by fixing or installing window and door screens.

Not everyone who gets infected with WNV will have any symptoms.  Up to 20 percent of people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, even though healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

Serious symptoms in a few people include high fever, headache, neck stiffness stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may bepermanent.

Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

Health District officials urge anyone who is experiencing these symptoms should see their doctor.  Although all Nueces County residents and neighboring areas are at risk of getting West Nile Virus, persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease.