Sep
26
Seven Clark County Residents Found Infected With West Nile Virus
According to reports by the Southern Nevada Health Department, seven residents in Clark County have been found to be infected with the West Nile virus. This mosquito-borne virus has been causing seasonal epidemic on many parts of the US these recent years. The West Nile virus is considered a threatening disease, the most severe form of which can cause inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord which can lead to paralysis and even death.
The seven residents who were found to be stricken by the said virus were composed of three males and four females. The victims were found to be 39, 57, 74, 79, 81 and 83 years old. Those who were found to be infected by the West Nile virus are currently undergoing treatment at physical therapy and rehabilitation centers to help them regain back their mobility as strength, according to an official. Their names were withheld to follow Federal privacy laws.
The said West Nile victims were reported by the health care officials in the Las Vegas Valley just last week. The victims of the said disease have been hospitalized and have undergone treatment and are currently undergoing rehabilitation. The current case of West Nile infections may be a cause for concern for health officials. The most serious case of West Nile infections in Clark County in a year was in 2004 when 23 residents were reported to have been infected. The next one came in 2008 where there were 12 residents who were reported to have been stricken by the said virus. The seven recent infections were the most reported so far after not one case was reported last year.
One of the best ways to avoid being infected by the West Nile virus is by avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes. Residents are urged to use effective insect repellents and wear long sleeved shirts and pants to avid getting bitten, especially at dusk or at dawn, the time when the mosquitoes are most active.
Source: Las Vegas Review Journal