Texas has 43 human cases of West Nile; Keep in mind the danger of other encephalitises

From AP and Staff Reports

September 12, 2002 -- Texas has recorded 43 human cases of West Nile virus, including one death.

The update on the mosquito-borne virus came on Sept. 5 on the Texas Department of Health website.

Harris County has the most recorded cases with 22. Six cases have been reported in Dallas County and five in Orange County. Two each have been reported in Jefferson and Montgomery counties and one each in Collin, Galveston, Haskell, McLennan, Tom Green and Trinity counties.

The single death was recorded in Harris County.

Health experts say nationwide, the number of people infected with the West Nile virus has surpassed 700.

In the most severe cases, West Nile causes a potentially fatal brain inflammation. Others get a flu-like illness, with fever, headache and muscle pains that last a few days.

The Texas Department of Health offers the "Four Ds" plan for people to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

DUSK/DAWN are the times of day you should try to stay indoors. This is when infected mosquitoes are most active.

DRESS in long sleeves and pants when you're outside. for extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.

DEET is an ingredient to look for in your insect repellent. Always wear repellent when outdoors, and choose products that contain up to 20 percent DEET.

DRAIN standing water in your backyard and neighborhood -- old tires, flowerpots, and clogged rain gutters. These are mosquito breeding sites.

In related information, Dr. James Wright at the Tyler regional office of Texas Department of Health reminds citizens that besides West Nile Virus, other encephalitises are just as newsworthy.

"With the emphasis on West Nile Virus (WNV) and the illness it causes, it is worth being reminded that other encephalitis viruses are also present in East Texas. Unlike WNV, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and St Louis Encephalitis (SLE) have existed in East Texas for a long time," noted Dr. James Wright, veterinarian with Texas Department of Health's zoonosis division, Tyler.

Below is a summary of the cases we have had reported this year.

"We really appreciate our veterinary practitioners for their willingness to report cases and to complete the surveillance form associated with the report," Wright added. "Since we are not finding dead birds in East Texas, these veterinarians are the heart of our surveillance system."