West Nile Death Toll Hits 7 in La. CDC Louisiana arbovirus database Air Force wing

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY : Associated Press Writer Aug 9, 2002 : 9:13 pm ET

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The death toll from the worst outbreak of West Nile virus in U.S. history climbed to seven Friday as Louisiana health officials said two more people had died of the mosquito-borne disease. The governor of Mississippi declared a state of emergency as the number of cases there increased.

The victims were identified as a 76-year-old woman who died Aug. 2 and a 94-year-old woman who died Sunday. Both lived in parishes north of New Orleans, across Lake Pontchartrain, that have reported more than 30 cases of the disease.

"It looks like a lot of the people who died were elderly people and people with other health problems," said Dr. Raoult Ratard, the state epidemiologist.

The number of cases in Louisiana has risen to 85 and the state is still waiting for test results on 90 blood samples, Ratard said. To avoid delaying results for the most seriously ill, Louisiana will test only people who appear to have nervous system infections -- meningitis or encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.

The Louisiana outbreak is the deadliest since the virus killed seven people and hospitalized 55 others in New York in 1999, when the disease was first detected in this country.

With weeks of hot, humid weather still ahead, Louisiana has already equaled the death toll from that outbreak as well as the 59 confirmed cases of human encephalitis, or brain swelling.

One of the latest Louisiana victims was Nona Smegal, 76, who suffered from emphysema and had a heart attack 18 months ago. Her son, Thomas Smegal, told The Times-Picayune newspaper that he used to think daily news reports overplayed the outbreak.

"They make a list, you know: `Wear long sleeves. Don't go out at night. Empty standing water.' And I'm like, 'God, will you spend some time on something else?'" he said.

"But now, all of a sudden, I'm thinking they'd better keep saying this," he said. "And people had better be paying attention."

All West Nile deaths this year have been in Louisiana, though Mississippi officials were awaiting test results to confirm whether a death there was due to the virus.

Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove declared a state of emergency to warn residents to protect themselves and clear the way to seek federal funding to fight the outbreak. Louisiana has already taken the step.

Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said she planned to ask the Air Force next week to send in a special operations squadron to spray insecticide in affected parishes. The operations group of the 910th Flight Wing, based in Ohio, specializes in insect control.

On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been at least 112 human cases of the mosquito-borne virus this year -- more than half of them in the past week. The report was issued before cases were reported in Washington, D.C., and Alabama. Indiana reported its first case Friday.

Since it appeared in the United States, the virus has been detected in 35 states and Washington.

Mississippi has reported 41 human cases and there have been cases in Texas and Illinois. Animal cases have spread all the way to western Nebraska.

South Dakota officials said the virus showed up in four pelicans that apparently died of something else. State epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger said it was the first time the disease was found in the big birds in the United States.

The CDC has already given $17 million to states to fight against mosquitoes, but said an additional $10 million will be handed out. About $3.7 million will be earmarked for Louisiana and Mississippi.

Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will suffer no more than flu-like symptoms, but the weak and the elderly can get encephalitis, a potentially fatal brain inflammation. Officials in a number of states have boosted mosquito-spraying efforts and urged people to protect themselves by using bug repellent and wearing long sleeves.

Encephalitis is usually seen in August and September, but Louisiana's first patients became ill in June. The West Nile virus is showing up earlier as it spreads to warmer climates, according to the CDC.

-- Anonymous, August 10, 2002

Answers

Florida may have it's first human case of the year in Gainsville. It was mentioned on the news last night.

-- Anonymous, August 10, 2002

There was a small article in the Chaleston paper concerning why no cases have turned up in South Carolina. The state's health director said, words to the effect, "It's here, has been here or will behere." Talk about covering your ass. Even though they've tested millions of mosquitoes, it's probably there, they just haven't had anyone die of it yet (that they know of).

-- Anonymous, August 11, 2002