News Release_____________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stamford Department of Health and Social Services
September 8, 2008 Contact: Dr. Johnnie Lee
(203) 977-4396
West Nile Virus Human Case
STAMFORD, CT / September 8, 2008 – The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed that a second resident of Stamford has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection.
The resident of Stamford, aged 80-89, was recently admitted to Stamford Hospital, and is still hospitalized.
Dr. Johnnie Lee, Director of Health and Social Services for the City of Stamford explains, "Even though the elderly are at greatest risk for complications of West Nile Virus infection, individuals of any age should take precautions regarding exposure to West Nile Virus. That is why it is so important for all residents to seek medical attention should they develop symptoms that could be due to West Nile Virus infection." Dr. Lee stresses, "It is imperative that all residents avoid contact with mosquitoes and use insect repellant according to the label instructions, when outside for work or recreation."
Most who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.
A smaller number of people infected will develop more severe symptoms including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Precautions to avoid mosquito bites include:
*Minimize time outdoors at dusk and dawn.
*Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
*Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.
*Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors. *Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use them according to label instructions. When using DEET (the most widely used insect repellent), use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6% lasts approximately 2 hours and 20% for 4 hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than 2 months.
Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:
*Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, tire swings.
*Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling.
*Clean clogged roof gutters.
*Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use such as wading pools and wheelbarrows.
*Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis *Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and when not in use, pool covers.
*Use landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property.
Additional resources for information on West Nile virus and mosquito management include:
• City of Stamford website:
www.cityofstamford.org
•The Department of Public Health website at
http://dph.state.ct.us • The Department of Environmental Protection website at http://dep.state.ct.us or 24-hour (toll- free in Connecticut) recorded mosquito information line (866) WNV-LINE (1-866-968-5463)
• The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Web site at
http://www.caes.state.ct.us • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov
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