Tests Confirm First Human Case of West Nile Virus in Oklahoma

August 8, 2003

OKLAHOMA CITY -- This year's first human case of West Nile virus in Oklahoma has been confirmed, the state Health Department said Friday.

A 29-year-old Tulsa County man was hospitalized late last month with West Nile meningitis and is now home recovering.

State health officials are awaiting lab results to confirm two additional possible cases of the disease, one in a 70-year-old Beaver County man and another in a 47-year-old man from Okmulgee County.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of the Culex mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Two of every 10 people bitten by an infected mosquito will get the virus.

About one in 150 people who get the virus will develop its potentially deadly encephalitis, or meningitis. Those over the age of 50 have increased vulnerability.

West Nile first reached Oklahoma last year, when 21 human cases of the disease - including two deaths - were confirmed.

This year, 56 birds and nine horses have tested positive, according to health officials.

"We are not surprised by this first human case this year," said Kristy Bradley, Oklahoma State Public Health Veterinarian. "We've know that the virus has been in the state since last summer, so we hope the public will not panic, and instead, be reminded that regardless of where they live, they should take personal precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites."

Such precautions include using insect repellents, emptying standing water and avoid being outside during the hours of dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

This year's West Nile virus season is shaping up as worse than last year.

So far there have been 164 human cases confirmed in 16 states. Colorado alone is reporting 72 cases, compared to a total of 14 for that state in 2002.

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/health/2392145/detail.html