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Human cases of West Nile virus likely discovered in Plano
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
Two probable human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Plano. The cases occurred in the 75074 and 75075 zip codes.
Additional laboratory testing must still be performed to confirm the presence of the disease in the individuals, said Geoffrey Heinicke, the city's environmental health manager. The probable cases were reported to the Collin County Health Department by the doctors treating the patients.
West Nile virus was first detected in mosquitoes in Plano in mid-June. Since then, city workers have been working to reduce the numbers of mosquitoes throughout Plano.
The city is also utilizing larvicide, which is placed in standing water to kill mosquito larvae, as well as adulticide, which is sprayed into the air to kill fully grown mosquitoes. While the mosquito spraying is constantly mentioned in news stories as a way to prevent the spread of the disease, Heinicke said it is not typically very effective.
"For the spray to be effective we have to go out when the mosquitoes are the most active, which is late at night to early in the morning," he said. "The spray actually has to hit one of the mosquitoes. It doesn't leave any sort of residual on plants or foliage, so if a mosquito lands it will not pick up any of the insecticide. It is minimally effective when we go out and spray."
The two probable human cases occurred more than five miles apart. One case occurred along the city's border with Murphy near Los Rios Country Club, while the other occurred in an area bordered by Park Boulevard to the south, Independence Parkway to the west, Parker Road to the north and Custer Road to the east.
People bitten by mosquitoes should pay special attention to the symptoms typically associated with West Nile virus, said Collin County Chief Epidemiologist Peggy Wittie. She said there are two types of West Nile virus, West Nile fever and neuroinvasive West Nile, each of which has differing symptoms.
Eighty percent of all people bitten by infected mosquitoes show no symptoms, Wittie said. The remaining 20 percent are typically diagnosed with West Nile fever, which can last a few days to a few weeks. The incubation period for the disease is typically two days to two weeks.
The main symptoms of West Nile fever are fever, headache and fatigue, Wittie said. Infected persons could also have skin rash, swollen lymph glands and eye pain, but those symptoms appear only occasionally.
The more serious version of West Nile is considerably rarer, affecting about one in 150 infected people, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It may present itself as West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis, and is especially dangerous for elderly people and those with compromised immune systems. The main symptoms for the more serious form are high fever, gastro-intestinal problems, seizures, weakness and changes in mental status, Wittie said. Severe symptoms such as paralysis and coma may also occur.
"If someone thinks they might have West Nile virus they definitely need to go to a doctor, especially if the symptoms last more than four days," Wittie said. "It may end up being West Nile virus even if you think it is something else."
The main way to prevent exposure to West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites in the first place. Wittie said using insect repellants with DEET is crucial, as is trying to avoid being outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. For those people that must be outside at those times, Wittie advises wearing loose-fitting, light-colored long sleeve shirts and long pants.
The city of Plano has set up a West Nile virus hotline, 972-941-7180, to answer questions residents have regarding the disease. Additional information can also be found on the city's website, www.plano.gov/Health/Pages/WNV.aspx.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Lone Star Woodcraft wrote on Aug 13, 2012 4:30 PM:
" One bat can eat over 1,000 mosquitos in a single evening. Instead of spraying toxic chemicals where we live and our children play why not try a natural alternative and put up a Bat House!. Lone Star Woodcraft makes Certified Cedar Bat Houses. "
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