September 26, 2003 -- A 90-year-old Oakland County woman has died with West Nile virus (WNV), the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has confirmed today. She also is the first confirmed human WNV case in Michigan this year.

The woman was admitted to an Oakland County hospital on August 17 and died on September 4.

“Certainly, we extend our sympathies to the family and friends of the Oakland County woman,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “We continue to urge citizens to take extra precautions and protect against possible exposure to mosquitoes.”

Olszewski said ongoing monitoring by public health for WNV and other    mosquito-borne diseases is allowing the state to track the spread of the disease and be proactive in efforts to combat it.

Earlier this month, MDCH and officials from the American Red Cross Southeast Michigan Division announced that a Wayne County man was identified as the state’s first donor with WNV-infected blood.  

Required blood donor testing positively identified the West Nile virus in blood from a Wayne County donor.   The donor’s blood was excluded from distribution before it could present a risk, and never entered Michigan’s general supply.
 
For 2003, the virus has been detected in birds, mosquitoes, and also for the first time, two horses.  Two 7-year-old unvaccinated horses – one from Allegan County and the other from Clinton County – tested positive with WNV recently.  The Allegan County horse was treated and has recovered; the Clinton County horse was euthanized.

In 2002, Michigan had the second highest number of West Nile virus human cases in the nation with 644 cases, including 51 deaths. 

Most people infected with the West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.  Based on preliminary evidence, about one in four infected persons will have mild illness with fever, headache and body aches, sometimes with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. 

Individuals with fever and signs of encephalitis and/or meningitis should be tested for West Nile virus.  Symptoms of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain linings) include severe headache, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, convulsions and paralysis.  Physicians are also urged to test patients for West Nile virus if they present signs of sudden, painless paralysis in the absence of stroke.

West Nile virus is spread to humans almost exclusively through the bite of an infected mosquito.  There continues to be a strong focus on educating the public on the many ways to reduce the risk of becoming infected by minimizing exposure to mosquitoes, even in the recently cooling weather.  Messages include:

• Applying insect repellant that contains the active ingredient DEET to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturer’s directions for use;
• Avoiding applying repellent to children less than 2 years of age, and to the hands of older children because repellents may be transferred to the eyes or mouth potentially causing irritation or adverse health effects;
• Maintaining window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of buildings;
• Draining puddles in the yard, emptying water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, barrels, cans or similar sites where mosquitoes can lay eggs; and
• Avoiding being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk) and wearing light colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants when you have to be outdoors. 

A licensed equine West Nile virus vaccine is available and horse owners are encouraged to vaccinate their horses, in consultation with private veterinary practitioners.  Additionally, veterinarians have a new tool for treating WNV-affected horses through a recently U.S. Department of Agriculture licensed medication. Horse owners are also encouraged to take other simple preventive measures that help reduce the risk of mosquito exposure, including:

• Eliminating opportunities for mosquito breeding by draining wet areas of pasture, puddles, repairing eave troughs, gutters, and clearing any containers, tarps or rubbish that may hold even small pools of water;
• Draining water tanks, troughs or buckets at least weekly;
• Using approved insect repellants to protect horses; and
• Placing horses in stables, stalls or barns under fans during the prime mosquito exposure hours of dawn and dusk, and other times when mosquitoes are present, if possible.

Visit the State of Michigan’s web site on WNV at www.michigan.gov/wnv for complete information and resources.