Map credit – DVBID
# 6476
A week ago, in Texas: West Nile Cases Rising I wrote about the high number of West Nile infections being reported in, and around, Dallas County Texas. At the time, the DCHHS was reporting three local fatalities from WNV neuroinvasive disease (WNND).
That number has now doubled to six fatalities, according to this press release from the Dallas County Health Department. WNV related deaths have also been reported in Travis County (1) and McLennan County (1).
To put this into some kind of perspective, in previous years the entire state of Texas reported:
- 2 West Nile human fatalities in 2011
- 7 West Nile human fatalities in 2010
- 9 West Nile human fatalities in 2009
- 1 West Nile human fatalities in 2008
- 17 West Nile human fatalities in 2007
The latest edition of West Nile Watch indicates 115 human infections in Dallas County Alone – an increase of roughly 40% over last week’s total. Zachary Thompson -director of Dallas County Health and Human Services – is quoted on the department’s website about the seriousness of this outbreak:
Last week Baylor Health Care System sponsored a webinar called West Nile in North Texas: What you need to know, and that video is available on Youtube. Participating in this 23 minute program were:
- Janet St. James, local Medical reporter with WFAA-TV, Channel 8
- William Sutker, M.D., chief of infectious disease, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas
- Charles Perkins, D.O., medical director, Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services
- Roger Khetan, M.D., Internal Medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas
While Northern Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi are currently reporting the most West Nile Virus activity, the CDC noted last week that 42 states across the nation have reported WNV activity this year.
West Nile virus disease cases up this year
Take steps to protect yourself and your family
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people to take steps to prevent West Nile virus infections. Outbreaks of West Nile virus disease occur each summer in the United States. This year, some areas of the country are experiencing earlier and greater activity.
Thus far in 2012, 42 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 241 cases of West Nile virus disease, including four deaths, have been reported to CDC. This is the highest number of cases reported through the end of July since 2004. Almost 80 percent of the cases have been reported from three states, Texas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.
West Nile virus is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes. In the United States, most people are infected from June through September, and the number of these infections usually peaks in mid-August. Seasonal outbreaks often occur in local areas that can vary from year to year. Many factors impact when and where outbreaks occur, such as weather, numbers of mosquitoes that spread the virus, and human behavior.
“It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years,” said Marc Fischer, M.D., M.P.H., medical epidemiologist with CDC’s Arboviral Diseases Branch. “Regardless of the reasons for the increase, people should be aware of the West Nile virus activity in their area and take action to protect themselves and their family.”
The best way to prevent West Nile virus disease is to avoid mosquito bites:
- Use insect repellents when you go outdoors.
- Wear long sleeves and pants during dawn and dusk.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors. Use air conditioning, if you have it.
- Empty standing water from items outside your home such as flowerpots, buckets, and kiddie pools.
To find out about the West Nile threat in your area, you can visit the DVBID website below:
Links to State and Local Government West Nile Virus Web Sites
Click on a state to link directly to their West Nile virus Web page.
See list below for additional city-level and main State Health Department Web sites.
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