Third person dies from West Nile virus in El Paso
Officials with the City of El Paso Department of Public Health announced today the death of a 67-year-old woman from West Nile virus. The woman lived in the 79935 zip code and had underlying health conditions. This is the third death in the area from West Nile so far this year.
“It is with great sadness that we must report this woman’s passing,” said Bruce Parsons, Interim Public Health Director. “We continue to ask El Paso residents to be vigilant in taking personal protection measures to reduce the number of mosquitoes and avoid bites.”
In total, five new cases of West Nile virus have been identified bringing the total to 23 so far this year. They include a five-year-old boy, and three others who were diagnosed with the milder West Nile fever form of the disease.
“Though we are continuing to see cases of the more serious West Nile neuro-invasive disease, five cases of West Nile fever have been confirmed in our area, with four of these cases diagnosed in the past week. It is likely that this is the result of more people seeking medical attention for milder symptoms, and doctors providing more testing to confirm the presence of West Nile virus,” said Fernando Gonzalez, Lead Epidemiologist.
Still, department officials are asking that residents take extra precaution in avoiding mosquito bites which can transmit the disease. They are reminding the public to practice the four D’s:
• Use insect repellents that contain DEET
• Drain any standing water
• Dress in long, loose and light-colored clothing and
• Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing from Dusk to Dawn.
Education
In effort to increase awareness about the disease and ways the public can protect themselves, the Department has added a West Nile virus session to the list of presentations offered by the Speakers Bureau. Local civic and community organizations can schedule a presentation that will include background on the disease, prevention methods, as well as what people can look out for in regards to signs and symptoms of infection. Presentations can be scheduled electronically or via telephone at:
http://tinyurl.com/8b6qptx
(915) 771-5727
All cases for 2012 are listed in the following table:
Patient Age Zip Code
Male 54 79935
Male 34 79912
Male 75 79915 (deceased)
Male 25 79936
Female 81 79907
Male 80 79905
Male 77 79915 (deceased)
Male 53 79912
Male 68 79936
Male 71 79849
Male 57 79938
Female 47 79927
Male 49 79915
Male 60 79925
Female 85 79915
Female 59 79927
Female 62 79927
Male 47 79936
Female 72 79925 (new)
Female 67 79935 (new-deceased)
Female 48 79936 (new)
Female 56 79905 (new)
Male 5 79927 (new)
Symptoms
• Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
• Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.
• No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.
For more information on West Nile virus, please visit the Health Department website:
www.elpasotexas.gov/health/westnile.asp
To report standing water or mosquito breeding, call Environmental Services at
(915) 599-6290
Source: El Paso health department
