West Nile spreading

By Jason Niblett, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com

October 07, 2008 09:20 am

— The number of West Nile Virus cases in Jones County is still climbing.
With the latest report, the county has recorded 15 confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus. Jones County has the second highest rate in Mississippi, behind Hinds County, which is the state’s largest population center. Hinds County had 21 confirmed cases as of Monday. Other numbers for the Pine Belt include one case in Clarke County, four cases in Forrest County, three cases in Jasper County, and one case in Wayne County. There have been no confirmed cases of West Nile in Covington, Smith, or Perry counties, according to the Mississippi Department of Health.
With 84 confirmed cases, Mississippi has the second highest rate of West Nile activity in the nation, according to the Center for Disease Control. That brings Mississippi behind California, which has 272 confirmed cases. Colorado comes in just behind Mississippi with 77 confirmed cases. Mississippi has recorded three West Nile-related fatalities. Those deaths were in Hinds, Leflore, Forrest counties.
According to the mayor’s office, at least five of those 15 cases have been reported within Laurel’s city limits.
“Mac Kitchens with the Pest Control Department for the City of Laurel is asking everyone to be cognizant of containers that hold water around your homes,” City of Laurel Spokesperson Wanda Benson said. “Containers holding water are the prime breeding areas for mosquitoes. Emptying or removing these common sites of mosquito larvae prevent adult mosquitoes from developing. The cleaning and storing of these sites are the responsibility of the home or property owner.”
The Mississippi Department of Health will not release detailed information as to what neighborhoods the disease has been recorded because of privacy laws.
Dr. Clay Hammack, the District Health Officer for the southeastern and southwestern Mississippi divisions, said people in Jones County should be aware that the virus is in this community should take precautionary measures.
“We know it’s throughout South Mississippi,” Dr. Hammack said. “We need to really take seriously protecting ourselves.”
Hammack said the West Nile Virus is carried by the mosquito most common in Mississippi. He said the virus isn’t really a city problem or a rural problem, but the habitat most liked by the mosquitoes is usually found near homes. They like small stagnant puddles of water, he said, such as birdbaths, flower pots, or holes in the yard that hold water.
There are ways to discourage mosquitoes from feeding and breeding on one’s property. Hammack said people can get rid of standing water or add a larvicide to the water that can’t be removed. He said people should avoid mosquito-proned areas, especially between dusk and dawn. Another suggestion from Hammack is for people to wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants. Finally, people should use a DEET-based repellent.
“You can go a long way in protecting yourself from mosquitoes,” Dr. Hammack said.
There are two type of the West Nile Virus, he said. The first form, known as West Nile Fever, is the more common, causing fever, headache, nausea or vomiting, rash, and muscle weakness. This form is not usually fatal, but should still be treated by a physician.
The more severe form attacks the nerve system and can cause death. Symptoms also include headache and other symptoms, but adds a sense of confusion. Both forms of West Nile progress quickly.