KBTX - Health - Headlines

West Nile Confirmed in Brazos County Resident

Updated: Thu 10:54 PM, Jul 31, 2008

Test results from the State of Texas have confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus this year in Brazos County.

The Brazos County Health Department said Thursday they were notified of the possible case on July 25. State testing was needed to confirm the disease.

It is the health department's policy not to release any information concerning the individual that has been infected, so that person's condition or where in Brazos County they live is unknown.

The Texas Department of State Health Services' statistics, which as of Thursday morning did not reflect a positive human case in Brazos County, reports four human cases of West Nile in Texas, along with two cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease, the more serious of the West Nile infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 percent of people who contract West Nile will show no symptoms. Upwards of 20 percent could experience fever, head and body aches, nausea and swollen glands, which could last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks.

The most serious cases of West Nile happen to about one in 150 people infected, that according to the CDC.

"The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis," according to the CDC's West Nile site, which is linked below. "These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent."

Collections of mosquitoes at four locations have tested positive for West Nile so far this month, according to the health department:

- The Texas A&M University Golf Course at Bizzell and Lewis Streets
- Morningside Drive in Bryan
- Summerglen Drive in College Station
- Carter Creek Parkway in Bryan

Officials continue to emphasize the entire county is positive for the disease.

Here are the Four Ds of prevention, as provided by the Brazos County Health Department:

- Drain standing water around the house, including tires, cans, flowerpots, rain gutters, buckets, wading pools, puddles, etc. Trim grass and shrubs and do not over water lawns and gardens.

- Wear insect repellent containing DEET.

- Stay indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

- Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors to prevent bites.


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