{"id":10302,"date":"2025-03-01T14:07:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan33\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:52:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:52:23","slug":"dhan33","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan33\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan33 ~  Division of Public Health &#8212; Health Alert  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan33.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->33 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->July 1, 2003 7:53 am <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n              <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n  \n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n   Advisory<!--[END]-->\n\n<br>\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\nFIRST CROW TESTED POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS<!--[END]-->\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Delaware&#8217;s Division of Public Health (DPH) announces the first wild bird to test positive for West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2003. The dead\n\n\n  crow, collected on June 23, was found in the Newark area. This is the first bird to test positive in the 2003 season. This advisory\n\n\n  provides information to the Delaware health care community about WNV.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  WNV is endemic in Delaware. The disease first appeared in Delaware birds and horses in 2000. Delaware&#8217;s first and only confirmed\n\n\n  human case of WNV occurred in 2002, and was not fatal. In 2002, 214 wild birds tested positive for WNV in Delaware, as did six mosquito\n\n\n  samples and 24 horses.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  There were 4,156 confirmed human WNV cases nationwide in 2002, including 284 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and\n\n\n  Prevention (CDC). Nationally, WNV has spread to 44 states in the last four years.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Prevention\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  To avoid mosquito bites and reduce the risk of infection, patients should be encouraged to:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Wear insect repellant containing less than 50% DEET for adults, less than 10% DEET for children;\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants in mosquito-infested areas;\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Avoid peak mosquito activity during dusk, evening or early morning;\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Drain or remove items that collect water and provide mosquito-breeding habitat, such as buckets, rain barrels, old tires, blocked\n\n\n  rain gutters and unused swimming pools.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Transmission\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Humans are infected with WNV via the bite of an infected mosquito. In a very small number of cases, WNV has been spread through blood\n\n\n  transfusions, organ transplantation and during pregnancy from mother to baby. Aside from these specific circumstances, it does not spread\n\n\n  from person to person.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Incubation Period\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The incubation period is thought to range from three to 14 days.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Signs and Symptoms\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Mild &#8211; Most WNV infections (80%) are clinically unapparent. Approximately 20% of those infected develop a mild illness (West Nile\n\n\n  Fever), which includes sudden onset of fever and which may be accompanied by malaise, anorexia, headache, myalgia, nausea, vomiting,\n\n\n  rash, lymphadenopathy, and eye pain. Symptoms generally last three to six days.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Severe &#8211; Approximately 1 in 150 infections result in severe neurological disease, more commonly encephalitis than meningitis. The\n\n\n  most important risk factor for developing severe neurological disease is advanced age. Neurologic presentations have included ataxia and\n\n\n  extrapyramidal signs, optic neuritis, cranial nerve abnormalities, polyradiculitis, myelitis, and seizures. Several patients experienced\n\n\n  severe muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis. Other associated symptoms include fever, weakness, and gastrointestinal symptoms.\n\n\n  Myocarditis, pancreatitis, and fulminant hepatitis have also been described.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Clinical Suspicion\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Diagnosis of WNV infection is based on a high index of clinical suspicion and obtaining specific laboratory tests. WNV should be strongly\n\n\n  considered in adults > 50 years of age who develop unexplained encephalitis or meningitis in summer or early fall. Local evidence of\n\n\n  WNV enzootic activity or other human cases should further raise suspicion. Obtaining a recent travel history is also important.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Diagnostic Testing\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The DPH Laboratory performs WNV testing. The most efficient diagnostic method is detection of IgM antibody to WNV in serum or cerebral\n\n\n  spinal fluid (CSF), collected within eight days of illness onset, using the IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay\n\n\n  (MAC-ELISA). Since IgM antibody does not cross the blood-brain barrier, IgM antibody in CSF strongly suggests central nervous system\n\n\n  infection. False-positive results may occur in patients recently vaccinated for or recently infected with related flaviviruses (e.g.,\n\n\n  yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue).\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Treatment\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Treatment is supportive, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and prevention of secondary infections\n\n\n  for patients with severe disease. Ribavirin in high doses and interferon alpha-2b were found to have some activity against WNV in vitro,\n\n\n  but no controlled studies have been completed on the use of these or other medications, including steroids, antiseizure medications, or\n\n\n  osmotic agents, in the management of WNV encephalitis.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Reporting Suspected Human WNV Infection\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Please report suspected human WNV infections to DPH at 888-295-5156.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Additional Information\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The following website contains information about resources locally, including how to submit clinical specimens and birds for testing.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>http:\/\/www.state.de.us\/dhss\/main\/hottopics\/wnv.html\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The following is the WNV website at the CDC.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncidod\/dvbid\/westnile\/index.htm\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncidod\/dvbid\/westnile\/index.htm<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Questions about this advisory should be directed to DPH at 888-295-5156.\n\n\n<\/p><!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n       <\/div>\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n      <ul>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n          <\/div> \n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #33 July 1, 2003 7:53 am Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10302","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10302"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11478,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10302\/revisions\/11478"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}