West Nile Virus News

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September 20, 2004

FIRST EASTERN JACKSON COUNTY WEST NILE DISEASE CASE IDENTIFIED

The Jackson County Health Department (JACOHD) reported that a 33-year-old woman is the first probable case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in eastern Jackson County. She is in good condition and has recovered.

“As with many diseases, prevention is the simplest and most effective way to combat the spread of West Nile Virus,” said Dr. Paula Livingston, Director of the Jackson County Health Department. “While the chance of getting the virus and having severe symptoms is rare, I urge Jackson County citizens to take action to protect themselves from mosquito bites while we continue to experience warm weather.”

Dr. Livingston said that people can reduce their chance of exposure to infected mosquitoes by taking preventative steps, such as eliminating all standing water, especially in tires, buckets and other water-holding objects; avoiding mosquito infested areas; wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes especially at dawn, dusk and early evening hours at peak mosquito biting times; using insect repellents that contain DEET and carefully following product instructions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, 80% of people infected with WNV have no symptoms while 1 in 150 people have severe symptoms. Severe symptoms include fever, weakness, muscle aches, headache, eye pain, stiff neck, paralysis, rash, swollen glands, sometimes with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. People are advised to seek medical care if they have these symptoms.

The Jackson County Health Department is no longer testing dead birds for WNV.
For more information, media may contact the TMC Office of Public Relations and Marketing at 816-404-3786.

The public should contact Jackson County Health Department at 816-404-6415 or visit www.jacohd.org

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