Newsroom > DHHS News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2007

CONTACTS
Annette Bredthauer, Public Health Veterinarian, (402) 471-1374 or annette.bredthauer@dhhs.ne.gov
Marla Augustine, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047 or marla.augustine@dhhs.ne.gov

Sound bites on this topic are available at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/audio/.

Lincoln—Two new cases of West Nile virus have been reported to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) this week, bringing the total cases reported this year to ten.

The new cases are both men, one age 51-64, from Scotts Bluff County, and the other, over 65, from Buffalo County.

Previously reported cases were a child between the ages of 0-13, a woman age 26-50, and a man age 26-50, all from Hall County. The rest were men: age 26-50 from Boone County; age 51-64 from Thayer County; age 26-50 from Lincoln County; age 51-64 from Platte County; and age 26-50 from Adams County.

West Nile is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.

Birds and mosquitoes are tested by DHHS to see how prevalent the virus is in the environment.

Four birds have tested positive this year—a blue jay in Scotts Bluff County, two blue jays in Wayne County, and a blue jay in Douglas County. Dead birds are collected by local health departments for testing.

Four new counties were added to the total of those with New West Nile-positive mosquitoes: Dawson, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Chase. Others with previously positive test results are: Cherry, Holt and Lancaster counties.

To avoid mosquito bites, DHHS recommends:

• Applying mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus;
• Wearing long-sleeved shirt, pants and socks;
• Avoiding going out at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; and
• Eliminating standing water to reduce mosquito breeding sites.

There were 264 human cases of the disease reported last year. This compares to 188 in 2005, 57 in 2004, 2,366 in 2003 and 174 in 2002. There were no cases prior to 2002, the year the disease found its way to Nebraska from the East Coast.

Most people who are infected by a mosquito have no symptoms or only mild flu-like symptoms. Less than one out of 150 people who get bitten by an infected mosquito and become infected will get seriously ill. However, people over 50 and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to the disease and are more likely to experience serious consequences.

West Nile fever includes flu-like symptoms such as fever and muscle weakness. Symptoms of the more serious West Nile encephalitis include inflammation of the brain, disorientation, convulsions and paralysis.

More information can be found on the DHHS Web site at www.dhhs.ne.gov

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