April 22, 2015 DHH Urges Residents to Prepare for West Nile VirusHealth Department suggests removal of standing water and other tips to protect your home and family

- As summer quickly approaches, the Louisiana Department of Health (DHH) wants to remind you to take the necessary precautions and protect yourself and your family from West Nile. Louisiana has seen a lot of rain this April, so one of the most important steps you can take now is to check around your home for standing water.

"All this seasonal heavy rain leads to standing water in small containers around the home, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes that may be infected with West Nile," said LDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard. "It's important to check for standing water in buckets, swimming pool covers and anywhere else that could cause a problem."

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 in 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 at least 65 years old are at higher risk for complications, but everyone is at risk for infection.

In 2014, Louisiana reported 61 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease in the state. LDH has been tracking West Nile virus for more than a decade, and statistics about its occurrence in Louisiana can be found in LDH's weekly Arbovirus Surveillance Report, found online at www.dhh.louisiana.gov/fightthebite.

Dr. Ratard recommends that all residents take the following precautions:

SAFETY TIPS

Protecting Yourself

Protecting Your Home

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about LDH, visit www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's Twitter account and Facebook.

###

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Interim Secretary Drew Maranto

Powered by Cicero Government