Two New Cases of West Nile Virus confirmed in Northwest Louisiana

Two new cases of the West Nile virus have been detected in Northwest Louisiana. Louisiana health officials said that the confirmed human cases are the first in the region so far this year. Both of them are more serious, less common form of the disease.

DHH Office of Public Health Region 7 Medical Director Dr. Martha Whyte has confirmed about the two West Nile viruses in humans. Both the cases are neuroinvasive (NID), which involved inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissue.

As per experts, majority (90%) of the West Nile virus cases do not show any symptom and around 10% of them will develop the fever that includes high fever, headache and body aches, which can last for just few days or may be several weeks.

The experts said that less than 1% of people being bitten by the West Nile virus have chances to developing a more serious form of the disease. Majority of those who are at risk of developing severe disease are the ones that are 65 years of age and above having compromised immune systems, but everyone is at risk of infection.

In early August, West Nile virus was also found in Redwood City and in Fremont in late July. Authorities concerned said that from 9pm to 5am, fogging will take place on Wednesday mainly in residential section bounded by Ravenswood Avenue to the north, Alma Street to the west, Palo Alto Avenue to the south and Coleman Avenue to the east.