Precautions recommended after West Nile cases confirmed

West Nile has spread

from mosquitoes to humans

in the panhandle.

Four human cases of

the disease have been

confirmed so far in

Nebraska, as of July 26.

One human case was found

in Scottsbluff within the

past few weeks. The other

three cases were in north

central Nebraska, central

Nebraska and Douglas

county.

“We’ve had four clinical

positives,” said Tabi

Prochazka, Environmental

Health Coordinator for

Panhandle Public Health

District

She recommends that

Nebraskans take extra

precautions when going

out during dawn or dusk

and that they wear a

insect repellant that contains

DEET, although

some argue that more natural

products work equally

well.

The city of Sidney sprays

for mosquitoes within the

city limits every Sunday

from 7:30-10 p.m.

“Foggers definitely are

effective,” Prochazka said.

The city also empties

standing water from culverts

and puts larvacide

in ditches to prevent mosquito

eggs from hatching.

Out of the four confirmed

cases in Nebraska,

one so far has resulted in

hospitalization.

“It can be dangerous,”

Prochazka said.

Prochazka confirmed

that West Nile infected

mosquitoes have spread

throughout the panhandle.

“All the places we’ve

tested in the panhandle

have tested positive,”

Prochazka said.

The recent rains could

contribute to more active

mosquitoes in the area, so

citizens should take extra

precautions.

“Pools of water are a

good breeding ground,”

Prochazka said.

She doesn’t predict the

population of mosquitoes

in the area will decrease

anytime soon.

“It usually doesn’t drop

off until the last freeze,”

Prochazka said.

Of all the pools of mosquitoes

that were tested in

Nebraska, 26 of them tested

positive for West Nile.

In 2012, there were 193

confirmed human cases of

West Nile in the state of

Nebraska, Prochazka said.

About 30 to 35 of these

cases were in the panhandle

area. Four deaths were

reported in the state.

West Nile can cause

symptoms similar to the

flu like fever and muscle

weakness. The virus can

also incite more severe

reactions like encephalitis.

Encephalitis is inflammation

of the brain which

can cause disorientation,

convulsions and paralysis.

Those who have a compromised

immune system or

who are older than 50 can

be more susceptible to the

disease and its effects.

Prochazka recommends

some guidelines for citizens

to protect themselves

and their families. Always

cover as much of your body

as possible when going

outside. Wear long sleeves,

long pants and shoes and

socks. Be extra cautious

when going outdoors at

dawn and dusk, the time

at which Culex mosquitoes,

the kind that carry

West Nile, are most active.

Get rid of any standing

water on your property.

Put larvicide in all water

troughs for animals. Make

sure window screens don’t

have holes or tears where

bugs can get in.

West Nile virus first

appeared in the United

States in 1999 and had

spread across the country

by 2003, according to the

University of Nebraska

at Lincoln Institute of

Agriculture and Natural

Resources. Scientists and

doctors think that more

than 80 percent of those

infected show no symptoms,

so most cases are

never reported.

From 2001 to 2009 about

1,100 reported deaths were

caused by West Nile. Most

of those who died were over

65 years of age, according to the institute.