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neonvincentSecond in a new series. I'm saving my last year of Examiner.com articles before my current computer crashes.
Five people test positive for West Nile virus in Michigan
Five people in Michigan have tested positive for West Nile virus, WDIV-TV reported Friday morning. Three of them have active cases of the disease, while two others donated blood that contained the virus, but show no symptoms.
Two of the active cases occurred in southeast Michigan, one each in Macomb and Monroe counties. The third was identified from Ottawa County on the west side of the state. These are the first confirmed human cases in the state for 2015.
In a statement quoted by the Detroit News, Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said “We have clear evidence that West Nile virus is present in the state again this summer. Even late in the season, remembering to take a few minutes to protect ourselves and our loved ones from mosquito bites when outside can make a big difference.”
The two people whose blood tested positive also came from southeast Michigan. One was reported from Wayne County and another from Oakland County.
"The American Red Cross consistently tests blood donations for a wide variety of infectious diseases. Recently, mosquito pools and a crow have also tested positive for West Nile virus in Oakland County," the Oakland County Health Division said in a news release quoted by WDIV.
The three cases so far this year already exceed last year's. MLive reported that there was one case in 2014. The patient survived.
Fifty-seven birds from twenty-one counties scattered throughout the state have tested positive for West Nile virus according to a map maintained by the state of Michigan, including Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties. In addition, the virus has been reported from mosquitoes in Bay, Kent, Oakland, Saginaw, and Wayne counties.
While most people infected with the virus will show no symptoms, some, possibly up to thirty percent, will come down with flu-like symptoms. One in one-hundred-fifty will become severely ill. They may show symptoms including stiff neck, muscle weakness, disorientation, stupor, painless paralysis, and convulsions. These are caused by meningitis of the brain and spinal cord and inflammation of the brain. People over age 50 are most likely to develop a severe form of the disease.
To protect themselves from mosquitoes, people should apply insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon Eucalyptus oil. They should also wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts while outdoors. If possible, avoid being outdoors during dusk and dawn.
In addition, people should make sure their door and window screens are in good repair. They should also empty out any containers of standing water, such as buckets, tires, and unused children's pools to deprive mosquitoes of places to lay eggs.
