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For immediate release: July 1, 2005 (05-084)
Contacts:
Donn Moyer, Communications Office
360-236-4076
Spokane area woman reported to have positive test for West Nile
virus
OLYMPIA ¾ A woman from the Spokane area who was hospitalized briefly for an illness has been reported to have tested positive for West Nile virus infection. The case is listed as probable West Nile illness while additional tests are done at the state Public Health Laboratories and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The woman, who is in her twenties, had not traveled outside the state prior to getting sick.
“The disease is not spread person-to-person so the case does not represent a
threat to public health,” said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. “We’ve
been expecting West Nile virus to begin affecting people in our state as we’ve
watched it move across the country. Human cases were reported in Idaho and
Oregon last season, so it’s no surprise that the disease may come to
Washington.”
West Nile virus has spread across the country since it was first detected in
1999. Though it was not found in our state last year, infection was confirmed in
four dead birds and in two horses in Washington in 2002. No other human cases
have been acquired in our state.
“Most people infected with West Nile virus don’t have any symptoms but in a
small number of cases, the virus can cause serious illness including
inflammation of the brain or spinal cord; people over age 50 have the highest
risk for serious illness,” said Dr. Jo Hofmann, state epidemiologist for
communicable disease. “There’s no specific treatment for West Nile virus
infection.”
West Nile virus can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis
(inflammation of the spinal cord and lining of the brain). Because private
laboratory (commercial) tests for the infection are sometimes misleading, an
infection with West Nile is not confirmed until specialized testing can be done
at the CDC.
The Department of Health West Nile virus monitoring project is underway for the
2005 season, including dead bird testing. Dead birds may be the first indicator
that West Nile virus has moved into a new area. Mosquitoes can transmit the
disease to people, horses and birds. Working with local health agencies, state
health officials have sent 83 dead birds in for testing, and none have come back
positive for West Nile virus. So far this year, 12 horses have also been tested
for West Nile infection; all were negative.
The best defense against West Nile virus infection is avoiding mosquito bites.
People can do that by staying indoors around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are
most active; making sure that door and window screens are in good working
condition; and using a mosquito repellent when outdoors in areas where
mosquitoes are active. Always follow label instructions when using mosquito
repellents. Turning over old buckets or cans, emptying water from old tires, and
frequently changing water in birdbaths, pet dishes and water troughs helps
eliminate the small puddles of water in which many mosquito species breed.
The Department of Health Web site contains Frequently Asked Questions about West
Nile virus (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Zoo/WNV/WNVQ&A.html).
The agency’s West Nile virus information line, 1-866-78-VIRUS (1-866-788-4787)
has general messages about the disease.
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