Louisiana has recorded its first case of the West Nile virus in a human for 2013, according to the state Department of Health and Hospitals. The case was confirmed in Caldwell Parish in the north central part of the state on July 22, and was determined to be a neuroinvasive case, the most dangerous form.
Officials gave no additional information about the infected individual.
West Nile infections are characterized as neuroinvasive, West Nile fever or as asymptomatic. The neuroinvasive form occurs when the virus attacks nerve cells, and in older people may be very severe, with some cases resulting in brain damage or death, according to a health department news release.
West Nile fever is less severe, with most people suffering mid, flu-like symptoms.
“Asymptomatic individuals were never ill and were only discovered to have the West Nile virus in their blood when blood work was done for some other reason, such as blood donation,” said the release.
Only about 10 percent of cases will develop West Nile fever, and even fewer develop the most dangerous form.
“It is a little late in the summer for Louisiana to see its first human case of West Nile virus,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Raoult Ratard. “This could be related to Louisiana having a cooler spring, which meant mosquitoes did not breed as early in the year.
Ratard urged residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquitoes, including the use of mosquito repellant and covering skin when outdoors, and eliminating standing water around homes where mosquitoes can breed.
There were 160 cases of West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease in Louisiana last year. The highest number of the more severe cases was 204 in 2002.
More information is available online at www.dhh.louisiana.gov/fightthebite .