Earlier this week, health officials confirmed that an 83-year-old Baton Rouge woman had died from West Nile. The latest victims include a 53-year-old man from Folsom, a 75-year-old man from Baton Rouge and a 72-year-old man from the Calcasieu Parish town of Iowa. It appears as though the elderly are particularly at risk. The Department of Health and Hospitals said it had confirmed the first human cases of West Nile virus in Washington, Allen, Orleans, Calcasieu and Ouachita parishes. The disease is expected to spread to Arkansas in the near future. In fact, it has been found in most states east of the Mississippi and may only be a matter of time before it is nationwide. Gov. Mike Foster declared a statewide emergency, a move he said could help bring in federal money to fight the nation's second-worst epidemic of the West Nile virus, which can cause the potentially fatal brain inflammation known as encephalitis, as well as milder illnesses. Before the newly announced deaths, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed 185 cases, including 18 deaths, since the first Americans were diagnosed in 1999. The virus was first detected in New York City and now has been found in 34 states and the District of Columbia. An infected crow was found dead on the Whitehouse lawn last week... West Nile can cause a potentially fatal brain inflammation. It has struck other countries for decades, in Africa - Europe, and Asia. The virus infects numerous types of wild birds, from house sparrows to crows. Mosquitoes spread it among birds, and then to people. A spate of dead birds can be an early warning signal that the virus is circulating in a certain spot. The initial symptoms are fever, flu-like symptoms, and general malaise. Take precautions against mosquito's if you live near Louisiana. Keep flesh covered, use repellant, and limit exposure. Call the local health department if you have a concern. ******************************************************** INITIAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE FEVER, MALAISE, SEVERE HEADACHES, MUSCLE WEAKNESS & FLU - LIKE ILLNESS. *As of 8/26 there have been 370 cases reported & 18 deaths. People have been diagnosed with West Nile in 20 states and the District of Columbia, but nearly 80 percent of the cases this year are in three states: Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. *As of 10/10/03 this Virus has been on the wane, and not a significant threat. Flooding and excessive water movement from heavy rains have prevented much stagnant water, and temperatures are know too cold for any futher problems this season. |
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