The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following press release:
Health Officials Confirm First West Nile Virus Death of 2016
JACKSON, Miss. – Today the Mississippi State
Department of Health (MSDH) confirms the death of a Hinds County
resident from West Nile virus (WNV), the first WNV human death of 2016.
“This sadly serves as an important reminder of the
severity of West Nile virus, even though most of us will have no
symptoms at all or the illness is mild,” said newly named MSDH State
Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “We are currently in
peak West Nile season in Mississippi, so all residents should be
mindful of protecting themselves, regardless of whether there has been a
case reported in your county.”
In addition to the Hinds County death, the MSDH
reports two new human cases of WNV in residents of Lee and Marion
counties, bringing the 2016 total to 18 in Mississippi.
So far this year, human cases of WNV have been
reported in Calhoun, Chickasaw, Copiah (2), Hinds (5), Grenada, Lamar
(2), Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Marion, Perry and Rankin counties. The MSDH
only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the
public. In 2015, Mississippi had 38 WNV cases and one death.
Symptoms of WNV infection are often mild and may
include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, a rash, muscle weakness or
swollen lymph nodes. In a small number of cases, infection can result in
encephalitis or meningitis, which can lead to
paralysis, coma and possibly death.
The MSDH suggests the following precautions to protect yourself and your environment from mosquito-borne illnesses:
·
Use a mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient such as DEET while you are outdoors.· Remove all sources of standing water around your home and yard to prevent mosquito breeding.
· Wear loose, light-colored, long clothing to cover the arms and legs when outdoors.
· Avoid areas where mosquitoes are prevalent.
20 comments:
So what exactly is/has State Board of Health done to combat WNV other than reminding us to use Mosquito spray? What say you Dr. Lampton? Haven't you been chairman for the last ten years?
The State Board of Health, in this regard, is a lot like the JPD. They assemble after the fact to issue a statement.
With THOUSANDS of residents in Hinds County and a GAZILLION mosquitoes every year, one death is hardly worth bashing the State Board of Health! A tragic loss for the individual that died (and family), but get real when getting on your soapbox!
watch out 12:44 all that hot air you bleach out from your soapbox attracts mosquitoes
Amen, 12:44. Tragic loss of life.
12:05/12:33/12:56 - If you had come out of your basements, you might have noticed that there are mosquito spray trucks making the rounds.
Start a gluten free diet, from that point on you are immune to WNV,
It's funny some of you think the state health dept is solely to blame here. How about questioning your governor and legislature on why they keep cutting the department's budget and giving the money to more failed business ventures. I guess whining about what workers are (not) doing is easier than acknowledging your sorry ass leadership has continually failed you and the state.
KF, do you know the age of the deceased? It's my understand that infants and the elderly are more prone to infection.
No one, the health dept, the governor, or the legislator is going to get rid of all the mosquitos in Ms. If you are healthy you will survive west nile easily. If you are not healthy it might be a good idea to get some insect repellant.
It appears the critique is aimed at the Board and not the employees. I agree the board warrants criticism. This doctor dominated board is more interested in opening new avenues of revenue for their fellow doctors than focusing on the public health needs of our state.
Zika. 10,000 cases in Puerto Rico. Expecting 270 cases of microcephaly there alone. That's 2.7 Billion in lifetime care, on Medicaid. 1,600 cases in US already. And you fark stains are criticizing public health which you've cut funding to??? God help our young ladies and the kids they are going to bear. You're the enemy, "GubMint" haters. You are traitors and a liability to the rest of the human race. The Tea Party is a virus.
Count on the Harpy @2:12 to predictably turn the commentary back to their favorite whipping post.
Yep, the fault lies squarely on the health department.
TO: 2:46, did you loose it for just a split second---are you OK ???
To put things in perspective, more people in Hinds county/Jackson have been killed by criminals /drunk drivers than by a mosquito.
That didn't take long. I heard someone was struck by lighting this week, let's go find those bastards at the national weather service and make em' pay! I got a bad haircut! Somebody at the state board of barbers examiners is about to get f$@& ed up!
Dear 12:05PM and other dumbass wannabes:
What the Hell can Dr. Lampton or anyone else do to prevent WNV?? It is out there. Some skeeters carry it. Skeeters bite folks that an unlucky. There is no vaccine to prevent it. Ther is no treatment for it. WTF is a gummint agency 'sposed to f'n do to prevent it???.....DUMBASS
Easy solution to the mosquito problem...bring back DDT!
Thank you for your input Dr. Lamptom @5:06. Very well said. You are quite the intellectual.
Interesting the Feds pay for spraying around homes neighborhoods and all water breeding beds when someone gets zika yet no one sprays around when someone contracts West Nile.
Wanna be helpful start putting up bat boxes all around your property. The brown bat can eat 1000 mosquitoes in 1 hour, they also can live for 40 years. seems like a good investment. Plus if you get bit you can tell everyone you are batman while you are fighting off rabies.
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