West Nile Virus News

One of the big headlines of Spring and Summer 2003 was West Nile Virus. As we move toward these seasons this year, SWMC Lab Director Hubert Peterson M.D. shares the following information regarding this health issue.

There were 29 presumptively positive cases of West Nile Fever in the Seward County area in 2003 from July 16 through August 12, in patients ranging in age from 13 to 81.

In 2002, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed anyone who was positive for IgG and IgM, meaning those who test positive are infected, but may have only mild symptoms or none at all. Many of the presumptively positive cases in Seward County in 2003 were discovered through routine blood testing, with only a few having experienced any symptoms. These mild or asymptomatic cases are now called West Nile Fever.

We have an excellent group of physicians in this area, who closely monitor patients who are presumptively positive for IgG and IgM by blood test. Most of the time, no serious symptoms develop in these patients. The patients' family physician keep a close eye on all aspects of the symptoms and will immediately begin aggressive supportive treatment, should meningoencephalitis symptoms develop.

Signs and symptoms of those with West Nile may include neurologic illnesses such as confusion, speech difficulties, loss of coordination, hearing and vision impairments, marked behavioral or mood changes and severe or prolonged dizziness or headache.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment there were 90 human cases of West Nile reported in 2003, with seven deaths. Three additional deaths were attributed to West Nile, but were unconfirmed. The youngest death due to West Nile was 44 years of age, while the oldest was 94 years of age.

There were 91 counties in Kansas with positive cases in birds, mosquitoes and horses. There were 145 positive cases for birds, 82 for horses and 45 for mosquito pools.

Prevention, as in many illnesses, is the key to curbing those numbers. Follow the guidelines in place for protecting yourself against being bitten, including the use of mosquito repellant containing DEET, avoid areas that may harbor mosquitos, stay indoors at times when mosquitos are most active. People age 50 and older are the highest risk group, but West Nile Virus has been diagnosed in people of all ages. The risk of being bitten by mosquitos carrying the virus is there, no matter what your age.