Two deaths attributed to West Nile Virus
The Central District Health Department reports that two deaths in the three-county district this month were due to West Nile Virus (WNV) infections, with an additional nine cases of WNV confirmed.
The Central District consists of Hall, Hamilton and Merrick counties.
In the last five years, Nebraska has seen an average of six WNV deaths per year.
WNV circulates in the environment between mosquitoes (primarily Culex species) and birds. People become infected with the virus when mosquitoes feed on infected birds and then bite people. People are considered dead-end hosts because unlike birds, they do not develop high enough levels of virus in their bloodstream and cannot pass the virus on to other biting mosquitoes. The virus is rarely transmitted from person-to-person by blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and mother to baby, during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.
Because WNV can be transmitted through blood and organ transplantation, persons who were recently diagnosed with West Nile Virus infection should not donate blood or bone marrow for 120 days following infection.
There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
Reduce your risk of WNV by preventing mosquito bites:
— When you are outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient like DEET. Follow the directions on the package.
— Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
— Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
— Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels.
— Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and, on their sides, when they aren't being used.
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