Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.mcalesternews.com/homepage/local_story_154113814.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
June 02, 2008
WEST NILE ALERT
By James Beaty
Senior Editor
The first case of West Nile virus in Oklahoma for this year has been confirmed ? and it?s in Pittsburg County.
The victim has been identified as a 55-year-old McAlester woman, said Pittsburg County Heath Department Administrator Mike Echelle.
?She?s doing well,? Echelle said of the woman. ?I don?t think she was hospitalized.?
The woman had the onset of West Nile virus symptoms toward the end of April, said Laurence Burnsed, an epidemiologist with the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
?It takes from two to 14 days to contract it after exposure,? Burnsed said. The health deaprtment has just confirmed that the woman did contract the virus.
What?s unusual about this case is that it?s occurred so early in the season, according to Echelle. Typically, the cases are found later in the year.
?Last year, our first case was in the last part of June,? Echelle said.
He said Pittsburg County plans to test mosquitos for the presence of West Nile virus again this year. ?We?re contacting the city so the city can start its mosquito abatement program,? Echelle said.
In the meantime, everyone should take the usual precautions, said Echelle and Burnsed.
That includes wearing protective clothing, such as long sleeves and pants, when outside around dusk and dawn. Health officials advised people to wear mosquito repellent which contains the DEET protection.
Any outside containers which can hold even small amounts of water should be emptied to help eradicate mosquito breeding grounds. Rain gutters should also be cleaned.
Also try to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
?Repair any windows and door screens? where mosquitos might enter, said Burnsed.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.
June 02, 2008
WEST NILE ALERT
By James Beaty
Senior Editor
The first case of West Nile virus in Oklahoma for this year has been confirmed ? and it?s in Pittsburg County.
The victim has been identified as a 55-year-old McAlester woman, said Pittsburg County Heath Department Administrator Mike Echelle.
?She?s doing well,? Echelle said of the woman. ?I don?t think she was hospitalized.?
The woman had the onset of West Nile virus symptoms toward the end of April, said Laurence Burnsed, an epidemiologist with the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
?It takes from two to 14 days to contract it after exposure,? Burnsed said. The health deaprtment has just confirmed that the woman did contract the virus.
What?s unusual about this case is that it?s occurred so early in the season, according to Echelle. Typically, the cases are found later in the year.
?Last year, our first case was in the last part of June,? Echelle said.
He said Pittsburg County plans to test mosquitos for the presence of West Nile virus again this year. ?We?re contacting the city so the city can start its mosquito abatement program,? Echelle said.
In the meantime, everyone should take the usual precautions, said Echelle and Burnsed.
That includes wearing protective clothing, such as long sleeves and pants, when outside around dusk and dawn. Health officials advised people to wear mosquito repellent which contains the DEET protection.
Any outside containers which can hold even small amounts of water should be emptied to help eradicate mosquito breeding grounds. Rain gutters should also be cleaned.
Also try to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
?Repair any windows and door screens? where mosquitos might enter, said Burnsed.
Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.