Dallas County Health and Human Services has confirmed its second human case of West Nile virus for the 2007 season. The patient, residing in zip code 75206, has been diagnosed with West Nile Encephalitis and is recovering. DCHHS previously reported a case of West Nile fever diagnosed in a patient residing in zip code 75104. For medical confidentiality and personal privacy reasons, DCHHS is not providing additional information. DCHHS has notified the City of Dallas.
?Dallas County wants to alert the public that the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are back,? said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS Director. ?Our mosquito abatement team, in partnership with our municipalities,, are taking the appropriate actions to ensure the safety of our residents,? Thompson continued; ?With the widespread nature of West Nile this season, it is imperative that residents also do their part by taking the necessary precautions to avoid exposure to the virus.?
The most severe type of disease in humans infected with West Nile virus is sometimes called ?neuroinvasive disease? because it affects a person?s nervous system. Specific types of neuroinvasive disease include: West Nile Encephalitis, West Nile Meningitis or West Nile MeninigioEncephalitis. West Nile Fever is another type of illness that can occur in people who become infected with the virus. Symptoms of West Nile virus in humans may include fever, headache, tiredness, muscle aches, confusion, stiff neck, nausea, and sometimes a rash. Although the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have been sick for several weeks. The incubation period for WNV (the period between being bitten by an infected mosquito and showing the first symptoms) varies from three days to 15 days. As with most viral infections, there is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection. Anyone who experiences symptoms consistent with WNV should see a physician as soon as possible.
It is important for everyone to protect themselves and their families from West Nile virus by remembering the three Ds dress in long clothing, drain any standing water and using insect repellent that contains DEET, picaradin or lemon oil of eucalyptus.? The public can receive information on infected mosquito pools in Dallas County by sending an email to westnile@dallascounty.org to be added to the West Nile Watch distribution list. This publication is distributed by email weekly during mosquito season and contains a list of lcoations within Dallas County where mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
To date, Dallas County has identified 27 sites across the county with mosquito pools infected with West Nile virus. In 2006, Dallas County reported 106 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus and four deaths. In 2005, Dallas County had 43 confirmed human cases of West Nile with one death. In 2004, DCHHS reported a total of 16 human West Nile cases with no deaths. In 2003, Dallas County had a total of 54 human West Nile cases with 4 deaths. In 2002, the first year the virus was reported in Dallas County, there were 27 human cases with 3 deaths.
DCHHS continues to work with its municipal partners on additional strategies to protect Dallas County residents from mosquitoborne illnesses. DCHHS West Nile prevention activities include surveillance, source reduction, larvaciding (killing mosquito larvae or wigglers), adulticiding (spraying for adult mosquitoes), and public education. Dallas County has enhanced is early detection capability through the use of gravid traps for mosquito collection and global positioning systems equipment provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). For more information about mosquito activities in Dallas County, call the DCHHS Environmental Health Division at 2148192115.