Alabama resident infected with West Nile virus

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Posted 10:39AM on Thursday, August 8, 2002

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A 71-year-old Dale County man was diagnosed with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the first confirmed case of a human infection in the state this year. State officials announced the confirmed case Wednesday and a statewide action plan to fight the virus' spread. "This is not a suprise nor should it come as a surprise," said State Health Officer Don Williamson. "You have to assume that the mosquitoes buzzing around you may potentially be infected with the West Nile virus." The infected man, who was not identified, was treated at a hospital and is recovering from the virus at home, said Williamson. In some people the virus can lead to deadly encephalitis. The Alabama infection comes a day after Louisiana officials announced the fifth West Nile related fatality this year. Mississippi has 28 cases of humans infected with the virus. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito don't become noticeably ill but some develop flu-like symptoms. The weak, the very young and the elderly can get encephalitis, a potentially fatal infection of the lining of the brain. On Oct. 30 last year a 44-year-old Birmingham man died from the virus, the first and only such casualty in Alabama. The number of confirmed cases of dead birds found in Alabama has increased to 189 in 35 counties throughout the state, officials said Wednesday. Birds infect mosquitoes with the virus, and the mosquitoes then infect other animals and humans. Brig. Gen. Mike Sumrall, who is coordinating Alabama's effort to reduce the threat from mosquitoes, said Guardsmen are mounting about 90 smoke generators onto 45 Humvee military vehicles to spray mosquito repellant on a large-scale basis. They're also taking steps to remove standing water, where virus-carrying mosquitoes thrive, from heavy equipment on state roads. However, he said it was not yet clear whether the smoke generators, normally used to spray smoke onto a battlefield for screening purposes, can be modified to spray the mosquito-killing chemicals. Williamson has applied for federal emergency funds to pay for an information campaign that will include hanging flyers on residents' doorways to instruct them on how to fight the spread of mosquitoes, such as getting rid of standing water. Information for teachers and students will also be disseminated, he said. Williamson said the only long-term answer to fighting the spread of the disease is at the personal level: Eliminating standing water, using insect repellant and staying inside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes feed.