Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Pasco logs first case of West Nile virus

The patient, a 54-year-old man, is recovering from the potentially fatal virus.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published September 27, 2005

A 54-year-old man is recovering from Pasco County's first documented case of West Nile virus, a rare but potentially serious disease spread by mosquitoes.

It appears the man was infected near his home in southwestern Pasco, said Dr. Marc Yacht, director of the Pasco County Health Department. Yacht could not provide more details Monday, citing patient privacy.

"Hopefully, the fellow will do all right," Yacht said.

This marks the first human case of West Nile virus in Pasco County since testing began in 1999. But with a dozen people contracting the disease in Pinellas County this summer, officials said they were not surprised the virus crept across the county line.

"I was hoping our run of luck would continue," Yacht said, "but I knew it was a matter of time, especially with the Pinellas cases, that we would see a case."

Mosquitoes catch the disease by biting infected birds, then spread it by biting horses or humans. The virus cannot be passed from person to person.

Yacht said the disease often goes unnoticed in younger, healthier people.

"Most people from teenagers to (age) 60 are going to do fine. We'll never even know about them," Yacht said. "As you get up in years, then you get more at risk for developing serious (symptoms)."

Those symptoms can include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, numbness, paralysis or coma - all caused by an inflammation of the brain, spinal cord or surrounding membranes. Still, only one in 150 people infected with the virus develops such symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pinellas and Pasco counties have the only human cases of West Nile virus in Florida this year, according to the state Department of Health. In July, a 16-month-old Pasco girl contracted another mosquito-borne disease, eastern equine encephalitis, Florida's first human case in two years.

Yacht said he did not know the girl's condition, but "hopefully that child is doing fine."

The Pasco County Mosquito Control District has stepped up its bug-spraying efforts in light of the latest infection. Crews sprayed the infected man's neighborhood last week as soon as they heard he was being tested for West Nile virus, Mosquito Control director Dennis Moore said.

Still, the dry summer has taken its toll on the mosquito population, as the bugs need standing water to breed.

Mosquito Control monitors the population with 40 traps around Pasco County, emptied daily, Moore said. In busy times, a trap catches more than 50 mosquitoes a day, he said. But these days, a trap brings in fewer than 10 mosquitoes.

"You would expect that with the lack of rainfall," Moore said. "It's pretty dry out there right now."

Even so, Yacht said, residents should take common-sense precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites: "People need to be aware that mosquitoes are out there."

WEST NILE VIRUS

Although many people experience no symptoms of this mosquito-borne disease, about 20 percent develop fever, muscle pains or severe headaches within two weeks of being infected. In rare cases - about one in 150 - the virus causes a serious swelling of the brain, spinal cord or surrounding membranes, which can lead to tremors, paralysis or coma. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, health officials say residents should:

Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.

Use insect repellents with DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the labels, because some repellents are not suitable for young children.

Clear out water in areas where mosquitoes can breed, including old tires, eaves and gutters, empty plastic pots, beverage containers, and tarps covering boats and other equipment. Water in bird baths, pets' dishes and plant trays should be replaced at least once a week.

[Last modified September 26, 2005, 19:15:29]