The Genesee County Health Department
announced today that a 47 year old Flint
resident tested positive for the West Nile
virus. The person remains hospitalized in fair
condition. This is the first case of West Nile
virus that has been identified in Genesee
County. A total of 463 probable and confirmed
cases have been identified in Michigan. The
total number of deaths in Michigan due to West
Nile virus is 36.
Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile
virus when they feed on infected birds that
carry the virus in their blood. After 10 to 14
days, the mosquito's salivary glands become
infected and those infected mosquitoes can then
transmit West Nile virus to humans and other
animals while biting them to take blood. During
blood feeding, the mosquito injects the virus
into the animal or human, where it multiplies
and may cause illness. Most people infected with
West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but
some may become ill three to 15 days after the
bite of an infected mosquito. Studies have shown
that about one in four infected persons will
have mild illness with fever, headache and body
aches, sometimes with skin rash and swollen
lymph glands. More severe infection
(encephalitis or meningitis) is less common and
may be marked by severe headache, high fever,
stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma,
tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and
paralysis. In a few cases, mostly among the
elderly, death may occur. Persons with severe or
unusual headaches should seek medical care as
soon as possible. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention has recently urged
doctors to also test patients for West Nile
virus if they present with sudden, painless
paralysis in the absence of stroke.
"Though it is late in the mosquito
season, West Nile virus cases are still
appearing in Michigan and will not end until
there are successive periods of hard frost.
Genesee County residents should try to avoid
mosquitoes as much as possible" said
Genesee County Health Department Medical
Director, Gary Johnson, M.D.
Although on-going investigations demonstrate
that the virus may rarely be transmitted to
recipients of organ transplants, blood
transfusions or through breast milk, it is well
documented that West Nile virus is spread to
humans by infected mosquitoes and is NOT
transmitted from person-to-person, horses to
people, or from birds to people. People cannot
get it from touching or kissing others who have
the virus or from a health care worker who has
treated someone with it. There are many ways to
reduce the risk of becoming infected, including:
- Applying insect repellant that contains
the active ingredient DEET to exposed skin
or clothing, always following the
manufacturer’s directions for use on the
label.
- Maintaining window and door screening to
keep mosquitoes out of buildings.
- Draining standing water in the yard. Empty
water from mosquito breeding sites, such as
flower pots, pet bowls, clogged rain
gutters, swimming pool covers, discarded
tires, buckets, barrels, cans and similar
sites in which mosquitoes can lay eggs.
- Avoiding or minimizing outdoor activity at
dawn, dusk and early evening when mosquito
activity is high. If outdoors, wear light
colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Adopting community-wide mosquito control
programs based on an integrated pest
management philosophy with primary emphasis
on the reduction of future mosquito
populations.
Case information for West Nile virus positive
cases in Michigan can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/mdch
and by clicking on "West Nile virus."
You can also get additional information on West
Nile virus by visiting the Genesee County Health
Department web site at http://www.gchd.us.
