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Two More West Nile Virus Cases Reported in Nevada

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 August 2005, 12:00 CDT

REVIEW-JOURNAL

Two more people living in Northern Nevada have contracted the West Nile virus, bringing the state's total this year to three.

Martha Framsted, a spokeswoman for the Nevada State Health Division, said both individuals are from Humboldt County.

One person is 50 and the other over 50, she said. The older individual, Framsted said, has a more severe form of the disease, which can cause swelling of the spinal cord covering and brain lining.

The less severe form of the disease involves a fever. In July, a Lyon County resident came down with the West Nile fever.

Clark County has reported no human cases of West Nile virus this year.

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of mosquitoes after the insects feed on infected birds. The virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes.

Last month, health officials found the West Nile virus in two ducks at a water feature at a hotel on the Strip. Though health officials refused to say at which hotel the ducks were found, they did say the ducks were removed.

Dr. Bradford Lee, the state's health officer, stressed that Nevadans should continue to practice preventive measures, including wearing mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Source: Las Vegas Review - Journal

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