October 24, 2014 DHH Reminds Residents that the Most Important Tailgate Supply Could Be Mosquito RepellentTemperatures are dropping, but Health Department officials are urging Louisiana residents to Fight the Bite

- The Louisiana Department of Health (DHH) announced five (5) new cases of West Nile virus this week, but no new deaths. Fall weekends in Louisiana often mean residents are out at the tailgate and big game, which can mean exposure to mosquitos that could carry the West Nile virus. LDH officials are reminding football fans that the best way to Fight the Bite is by wearing long sleeves and pants, and to use mosquito repellent when outside. Including the new cases from this week, there have been 135 cases of West Nile in Louisiana this year with six (6) of those resulting in death. Only one (1) of the cases tracked this week presented as neuroinvasive disease in Caddo Parish.

Of the four other cases, all presented as fever. There was one (1) case in Bossier Parish, two (2) cases in Orleans Parish, and one (1) case in Pointe Coupee Parish. A copy of this week's report can be found by clicking here. An archive of the weekly reports on the West Nile virus can be found by clicking here

"Whether at your high school football game this weekend or at the big LSU v. Ole Miss game in Baton Rouge, we should all remember to Fight the Bite with mosquito repellent and protective clothing. The best defense is a good offense,” said LDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard. 

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 saw 34 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease in the state, which was down from 2002's high of 204 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease. LDH has been tracking West Nile Virus for more than a decade, and statistics about its occurrence in Louisiana can be found online at www.dhh.louisiana.gov/fightthebite.

SAFETY TIPS

Protecting Yourself

 

 

Protecting Your Home

 

 

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

There are zero (0) cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Louisiana this week, a disease that can also affect humans; there have been 12 total cases this year. The number of cases among horses is similar to last year as displayed on Page 2 of the weekly Arbovirus Surveillance Summary. To date, there have been zero (0) reported human cases of EEE in Louisiana this year.

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is transmitted to humans and horses by the bite of an infected mosquito. After humans are infected with the virus, they can develop encephalitis. EEE is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Most cases occur in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states (see map). Most persons infected with EEEV have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33 percent mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. This infection is preventable in horses with prior vaccination.

EEE is one of several mosquito-transmitted diseases that are reason for people to take precautions against mosquito bites.

Chikungunya Fever/Dengue Fever

LDH continues to monitor chikungunya fever and dengue fever, and include any reported cases in its weekly Arbovirus Surveillance Summary.  This week, there were zero (0) new cases of chikungunya fever imported to Louisiana. There were no new cases of dengue fever. So far this year, there have been 12 cases of chikungunya fever and two (2) cases of dengue fever. All of Louisiana's reported chikungunya fever and dengue fever infections took place while the individuals were outside of the United States. 

TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS

Anyone traveling abroad should also take the precautions listed above to protect themselves from mosquitoes in other countries. Mosquitoes in other parts of the world including the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Africa or Europe might infect you with chikungunya or dengue fever. For more information about these diseases, visit the CDC's website by clicking here.

-end- 

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

Powered by Cicero Government