West Nile virus still a threat in Vermilion Parish

Friday, November 1, 2013  |  Contact: Ken Pastorick; (225) 342-1881 or (225) 335-0235

Despite the cooler temperatures, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) is reminding folks that West Nile virus is still a threat. This week, the state's health department confirmed three new cases of West Nile virus, bringing this year's total to 58 cases. This week's new infections are West Nile fever cases, with one each in Ascension, Lafayette and Ouachita parishes.

Humans contract West Nile when they are bitten by mosquitoes infected with the virus. When people are infected with West Nile, the virus will affect them one of three ways. West Nile neuroinvasive disease is the most serious type, infecting the brain and spinal cord. Neuroinvasive disease can lead to death, paralysis and brain damage. The milder viral infection is West Nile fever, in which people experience flu-like symptoms. The majority of people who contract West Nile will be asymptomatic, which means they show no symptoms. These cases are typically detected through blood donations or in the course of other routine medical tests.

About 90 percent of all cases are asymptomatic, while about 10 percent will develop West Nile fever. Only a very small number of infected individuals will show the serious symptoms associated with the neuroinvasive disease. Residents who are 65 years old and older are at higher risk for complications, but everyone is at risk for infection.

Last year, Louisiana reported 160 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease in the state, which is down from 2002's high of 204 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease. DHH has been tracking West Nile virus for more than a decade, and statistics about its occurrence in Louisiana can be found in DHH's weekly Arbovirus Surveillance Report, found on line atwww.dhh.louisiana.gov/fightthebite.

This year, the state has had 34 neuroinvasive disease cases, 20 West Nile fever and four asymptomatic. Here's a parish-by-parish breakdown of this year's neuroinvasive disease cases; Ouachita, 14; Lafayette, 9; Rapides, 4; Caldwell, 3; Acadia, 1; Calcasieu, 1; Livingston 1; and St. Tammany 1. The state has reported four West Nile virus deaths so far this year.