Iowa Man State's First West Nile Case This Year

July 20, 2003
By TODD DORMAN, Courier Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES --- Iowa public health officials confirmed this summer's first human case of West Nile virus Friday and again urged Iowans to take precautions against the mosquito-borne illness.

Officials said a northeast Iowa man in his 70s became ill around July 1, suffering from muscle aches, a fever and fatigue. They would not say where the man is from or what hospital is treating him.

The victim, who worked as a part-time farmer according to officials, is in serious but stable condition.

Last year, Iowa recorded 52 human West Nile cases, including two deaths. But the first case in 2002 wasn't reported until Aug. 28. The majority of those cases involved elderly Iowans.

Also Friday, the Department of Public Health announced that birds infected with the virus have been found in Scott, Story, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Clay, Union and Cass counties. Infected birds had already been reported in Wapello, Woodbury, Greene and Warren counties.

West Nile is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that contract the virus from infected birds.

``I hope what happens is it reminds people that we have West Nile in Iowa, that it can be serious and tonight when they go outside they'll say, `Oh, I need to make sure I put some mosquito repellant on,''' said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, the department's top disease expert.

Most people infected with West Nile show no signs of illness while others experience minor symptoms, such as a fever. But some become seriously ill.

Six West Nile cases have been confirmed across the nation this year, including four in Texas, one in Alabama and another in South Carolina. Unconfirmed cases have been reported in Minnesota and Nebraska.

Quinlisk said the battle against the disease must be fought from back yard to back yard. She urged Iowans to dump any standing water that could serve as a mosquito breeding pool. Water in birdbaths should be changed once a week.

Iowans, Quinlisk said, should avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. And when they are outside, she said people should wear long sleeves and pants and apply a repellent that contains DEET.

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