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DHSS Press Release

Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Pager 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Date: September 19, 2018
DHSS-09-2018

DPH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE FIRST WEST NILE VIRUS DEATH SINCE 2012; CONTINUE TO URGE RESIDENTS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES

DOVER (Sept. 19, 2018) - Division of Public Health (DPH) officials announced today that a 73-year-old New Castle County man has died after becoming infected with West Nile Virus (WNV). The individual has been hospitalized since late August; he passed away this week. This is Delaware's first WNV-related death since 2012, when a 76-year-old New Castle County woman died from the disease.

DPH has confirmed five cases of WNV this year. Of the confirmed cases, all are men, four are New Castle County residents (including the individual who passed away) and one is a Sussex County resident. Their ages range from 57 to 75 years old.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the gentleman's family," said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. "His death is a reminder of how serious West Nile Virus can be, especially among vulnerable populations. The end of peak mosquito season is not expected for another month, so Delaware residents are once again urged to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and wear insect repellent whenever they go outdoors. It is particularly important for those who may have underlying health conditions to heed this message."

While the mosquitoes that cause WNV bite primarily from dusk (evening) to dawn (morning), other mosquitoes that cause diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever and Zika can bite during the day. The CDC now recommends wearing insect repellent whenever you go out.

WNV is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause serious health problems. WNV is transmitted by mosquitoes, generally in summer and fall, with a peak period for disease transmissions from mid-August to mid-October. Nearly 80 percent of people infected with WNV will not become ill. While only a little less than 20 percent of those infected with the virus will develop West Nile fever with mild symptoms (fever, headache, body aches, a skin rash on the chest or back and swollen lymph glands), one in 150 people infected will develop severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis).

Symptoms of severe WNV infection include headache, high fever, stiff neck, and/or tremors and muscle weakness. The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. Anyone who experiences any of these severe symptoms should seek medical help immediately. Symptoms may progress to stupor, disorientation, coma, convulsions, paralysis and possibly death.

Mosquito Bite Prevention: To avoid mosquito bites and reduce the risk of infection, individuals should:

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for reapplication times.
If using sunscreen, apply it first and insect repellent second.
Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to the child's face. Do not apply insect repellent onto a child's hands, eyes, mouth, or on cut or irritated skin.
Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age.
When outside, wear shoes, light-colored long-sleeved shirts and pants. Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs. Mosquito netting can protect one's face and neck, and infants in carriages, strollers and playpens.
Use permethrin (an insecticide) to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents), but do not apply to skin.
Prevent mosquitoes from entering the house by using screens and keeping windows and doorways tightly sealed.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's (DNREC) Mosquito Control Section has seen an increase of WNV found in wild birds and sentinel chickens this year throughout the state. To assist the State's mosquito control efforts, and to reduce mosquito-breeding habitat for mosquitoes that can transmit WNV, DNREC urges homeowners to practice good water sanitation on their property by eliminating standing water, particularly as might be collected in buckets, containers, uncovered trash cans, stagnant bird baths, old tires and unused swimming pools.

Last week, the Delaware Department of Agriculture also announced its third case of WNV in horses. While there are no human vaccines against WNV, there are effective vaccines available for horses through licensed veterinarians, according to the Delaware Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian's Office.

To report suspected cases of human WNV, call the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 888-295-5156.

For more information about:

Mosquito biology/ecology and control - Contact the Mosquito Control Section's Dover office at 302-739-9917.
Reporting WNV-suspect wild birds, or for requests for mosquito relief - For upstate areas from Dover north, contact Mosquito Control's Glasgow field office at 302-836-2555; for downstate areas south of Dover, contact Mosquito Control's Milford field office at 302-422-1512.
Animal health questions related to WNV or EEE should be directed to the Delaware Department of Agriculture at 800-282-8685 (Delaware only) or 302-698-4500. Ask for the Poultry and Animal Health Section.

For more information on what you can do to prevent West Nile Virus, visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person's spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

DPH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE FIRST WEST NILE VIRUS DEATH SINCE 2012; CONTINUE TO URGE RESIDENTS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BITES

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