For Immediate Release: August 14, 2003 (03-139)

Contacts:
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077

Yakima ¾ Results of preliminary state Department of Health laboratory tests show a Yakima County man in his 30s is very likely the state’s first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection. The case will be listed as "probable" until confirmatory testing can be performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The man was hospitalized when he first became ill in early August and is now recovering.

The state health agency is working closely with the Yakima Health District to investigate the situation. The Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratories recently expanded testing capabilities and now has a test that can distinguish between recent WNV infection and one caused by the St. Louis encephalitis virus. The Department of Health has also sent additional samples to the CDC laboratories in Fort Collins, Colorado for confirmation.

"Most people with West Nile virus infection don’t get sick, but in a small percent of people, it can be very serious, even deadly," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "Now that it appears we have a human case, people need to be serious about preventing mosquito bites and reducing the places where mosquitoes live around their homes."

According to Dr. Jo Hofmann, State Epidemiologist for Communicable Disease, "West Nile virus has been moving west, and we certainly expected to see it here this summer. We’ve been working with other agencies, veterinarians, and health care providers to identify human and horse cases of WNV infection, and testing dead birds for infection. While it’s important to remember that West Nile virus is not spread from person-to-to-person, this case is a reminder of the importance of avoiding mosquito bites."

West Nile virus infection causes mild symptoms in about 20 percent of those infected, but most people have no symptoms at all. Less than one percent of those infected will get seriously ill, with encephalitis (brain inflammation), or meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and lining of the brain). People over 50 are the most likely to have a serious infection. In May, preliminary tests indicating a Franklin County resident had WNV infection, but that was ruled out and additional testing is underway.

The Department of Health West Nile virus Web site (www.doh.wa.gov/WNV) and toll-free phone line, 1-866-78VIRUS, provide information on avoiding the disease, including mosquito bite prevention and mosquito breeding habitat reduction strategies. Information for health care providers on recognition and reporting suspected human WNV infections is also available.

The state Department of Health and local health departments are working together on monitoring and testing dead birds to detect West Nile virus and track the disease. The disease has been growing rapidly in other states this year, though it still has not been detected in horses or dead birds tested so far in Washington in 2003. The disease appeared in our state last year in two dead birds and two horses. State and local health agencies also provide education on mosquito bite prevention and reducing preferred mosquito-breeding sites around homes.

Mosquitoes carrying WNV can transmit the disease to people, horses and birds. The statewide WNV project monitors all three groups. The Department of Health and local health partners are sending select dead birds to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) for testing. Testing of sick horses suspected to have WNV infection is also being done at WADDL this year.

Additional information about West Nile virus surveillance in the Yakima Health District is available by calling 509-249-6541.

Read the Yakima Health District West Nile Virus Update (http://www.co.yakima.wa.us/health/wnv.htm).

###

DOH Home | Access Washington | Privacy Notice | Disclaimer/Copyright Information

Contact Information for the Department of Health Last Update : 12/18/2006 11:08 AM Send inquires about DOH and its programs to the Health Consumer Assistance Office Comments or questions regarding this web site? Send mail to the Webmaster .