West Nile discovered in Monroe County

The return of the West Nile virus to Monroe County was announced Monday by local health officials.\nThe Indiana State Department of Health confirmed that a dead blue jay found in Monroe County tested positive for the virus. There have been nine counties with confirmed cases of West Nile virus this year. No human cases have occurred thus far in the state of Indiana, but the first human case in the nation was confirmed in South Carolina at the beginning of June. \nIn 2002, all 92 counties in Indiana had confirmed cases of West Nile virus. Not all Indiana counties reported human cases; however, 293 human cases of the West Nile were reported, with 11 of these resulting in death. \nState officials said they are anticipating the spread of West Nile to all 92 counties this year. \n"We will not be surprised if we see more cases," said Bob Schmidt, administrator for the Monroe County Health Department. "It is the nature of the beast, and sometimes we are not as cautious as we should be."\nThe West Nile virus was first confirmed in 1999 in New York. The disease originates in wild predatory birds such as crows, blue jays and hawks. Mosquitoes that bite infected birds become carriers of the disease and can pass it on to other birds, horses, humans and the mosquito's offspring, according to the State Department of Health. \nThe disease can only be passed to humans by a mosquito that has bitten an infected bird.\n"There is no human to human transmission," said Jennifer Dunlap, public information officer at the State Department of Health.\nA human is considered a dead host, in that if a mosquito bites a human that is already infected with the disease, the mosquito will not become a carrier of the West Nile virus. \nThe Indiana State Department of Health is urging all residents to report any findings of dead birds to county officials. Once a case has been confirmed in a county, any further finding of dead birds will not be tested, but rather they will be used to help county and state officials determine the direction in which the disease is spreading so that it can be neutralized in the area. State surveillance officials are working closely with local officials to help test live birds and mosquitoes to help obtain more accurate data about the spread of the disease. \nSchmidt said through a few simple measures, residents can help to curb the spread of West Nile and greatly reduce the risk of individual infection. \nMosquitoes are most prevalent during dawn and dusk, and it is during these times that people should be sure to wear long clothes and spray their clothes with a mosquito repellent that contains DEET, in order to reduce their chance of infection. DEET is a chemical compound that is common in most repellents and can vary in amounts depending on the type of mosquito spray. \nResidents also should control the amount of standing water around their property. This includes such areas as puddles, bird baths and gutters. These areas serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and greatly increase the risk of becoming infected for residents living in the area. \nThe symptoms associated with West Nile are typically mild and can take three to 15 days to develop fully. Typical early symptoms include a high fever and weakness. Other severe cases have been reported to have meningitis, a swelling of the brain and spinal cord membrane, and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. \nIf a person is suspected of having West Nile, a sample of spinal fluid and blood is sent to the State Department for testing. The Center for Disease Control reports that only one in 100 to 150 of those who become infected with the disease develops serious reactions.\n"There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus," said Thomas Kuhn, nurse practitioner at the PromptCare Clinic in Bloomington. "All you're trying to do is assist the person and prevent any secondary infections." \nAntiviral agents such as ribovirin and interferon have proved to have some success, but neither of these drugs is specific to the West Nile virus.