State Announces One New West Nile Case In Chaves County
SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Department of Health announced Friday that it has confirmed one new case of West Nile virus infection in a 26-year-old woman from Chaves County.
She has West Nile Fever and has not been hospitalized. The state has had a total of 52 human cases of West Nile virus so far this year with three fatalities.
“You can protect yourself from mosquito bites by using insect repellant and avoiding peak biting times from dusk to dawn,” said C. Mack Sewell, the Department of Health’s state epidemiologist. ” West Nile will continue to be a threat until the first frost in your area.”
The 52 human cases of West Nile Virus for 2007 come from:
Bernalillo (8), Chaves (5), Curry (1),Doa Ana (14), Eddy (1),Grant (1), McKinley (2),Rio Arriba (1), Roosevelt (1),San Juan (10), Santa Fe (2), Sierra (2), Socorro (1), Torrance (1), Valencia (2)
The fatal cases have been from Chaves, Doa Ana and McKinley counties.
Common West Nile symptoms are fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. About four out of five people who are infected with West Nile Virus will not show any symptoms at all.
In very rare cases, about one in 150, people infected with West Nile Virus will develop severe illness including meningitis or encephalitis.
Severe symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, disorientation, tremors, and convulsions.
If someone has these symptoms, they should see their health care provider. People older than 50 are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile Virus.
