Mosquitoes – Southern Nevada has them and they are spreading disease!
Health District reports two new cases of West Nile virus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 30, 2019
LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District is reporting two new cases of West Nile virus in Clark County residents. Both have the more serious, neuroinvasive form of the illness. One individual is a female over the age of 50, and the other is a male under the age of 50. These new cases bring the year’s total to eight. Six of the eight West Nile cases reported to the Health District had neuroinvasive illness.
Most people infected with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms. About one in five people who are infected develop a fever and symptoms that can include headache, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. People with mild illness typically recover completely but may experience fatigue and weakness that can last for a few weeks or months. Some people who are infected, about one in 150, develop more severe illness that can cause encephalitis or meningitis. Symptoms of severe illness can include high fever, headache, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, paralysis, and coma. Those more at risk include people over the age of 60, people with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants.
The Health District’s Mosquito Surveillance Program is also reporting 30 additional West Nile virus-positive mosquito submissions in 15 ZIP codes. West Nile virus was detected for the first time in eight of these ZIP codes. St. Louis Encephalitis virus-positive mosquitoes continue to be detected in ZIP codes in Clark County.
The public is urged to protect themselves from mosquito bites and to eliminate breeding sources around their homes. Tips include:
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below.
- DEET
- Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- 2-undecanone
- Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors.
- Eliminate areas of standing water, including birdbaths, “green” swimming pools, and sprinkler runoff, which support mosquito breeding.
For more information and prevention tips visit the Health District’s website at www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/Health-Topics/west-nile-virus/. For updated surveillance information go to www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/news-info/statistics-surveillance-reports/west-nile-virus-surveillance/.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.