West Nile virus found in 2 more Northern Nevadans

Monday, Aug. 15, 2005 | 11:32 a.m.

For more information about West Nile virus, see the following Web sites:

http://health2k.state.nv.us

http://agri.state.nv.us

Clark County West Nile Hotline:

(702) 759-1220

West Nile virus has been confirmed in two more people living in Northern Nevada, state health officials said, bringing the total number of human cases in the state this year to three.

The Nevada State Health Division reported the two new cases of West Nile virus late Friday, one in a person under the age of 50, the other over the age of 50. Both live in Humboldt County.

The younger individual has a less severe form of the illness known as West Nile fever. The second person, over the age of 50, has a more severe form of the disease, which can cause swelling of the brain lining or the spinal cord covering.

There have been no human cases reported in Clark County this year.

Last year 23 cases of the disease were reported in Clark County, but no deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Symptoms of West Nile, sometimes fatal in humans, include fever and headaches in milder versions of the illness.

About one in 150 persons, or less than 1 percent of those infected with West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of the disease. Symptoms of the more severe disease include severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

West Nile virus is not contagious. It is spread by the bite of mosquitoes after the insects feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes then spread the virus to humans through bites.

Late last month state health officials confirmed they found the West Nile virus in two mallard ducks and several clusters of mosquitoes in the Las Vegas Valley.

The ducks that were found to be infected with West Nile virus came from a "water feature" of a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, health officials said, but would not identify which hotel.

The Clark County Health District said the ducks and mosquitoes had been confirmed to be infected with the virus, but as for exactly where the virus had been located, the district provided the public with only ZIPp codes in which the mallards and insects had been found.

Health officials said the ducks were taken from the grounds of a Strip hotel in late July. By a "water feature," health officials said it could mean a swimming pool, waterfall, pond or other pooling water source.

A permanent injunction issued in 2003 prevents the Health District or U.S. Department of Agriculture from releasing any more about the resort other than its ZIP code, in this case one shared by most of the hotels, noted Glenn Savage, the Health District's environmental health manager.

The ruling stems from a 1997 Texas case regarding a nonprofit animal rights group's requests for USDA records on the use of livestock protection collars at several ranches in the Lone Star state.

"As we know, West Nile virus is here in Nevada," said Dr. Bradford Lee, state health officer. "I cannot stress enough the importance of practicing the preventive measures to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes."

Preventive measures include using mosquito repellent containing either DEET, Pienridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, wearing long sleeve shirts, pants and socks.