{"id":10457,"date":"2025-03-01T14:08:09","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan76\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:56:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:56:55","slug":"dhan76","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan76\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan76 ~  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\/dhan76.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\"]-->76 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->May 17, 2004 8:27 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\nWEST NILE VIRUS<!--[END]-->\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  While no animal or human cases have yet been reported this year in Delaware, the Division of Public Health (DPH) reminds healthcare\n\n\n  providers that WNV is endemic in Delaware, and cases may occur any time there is mosquito activity.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Surveillance Update\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  West Nile Virus first appeared in Delaware birds and horses in 2000. Delaware\u2019s first confirmed human case of WNV occurred in 2002,\n\n\n  and was not fatal. There were no further human cases of WNV detected during 2002. In 2002, 214 wild birds tested positive for WNV in\n\n\n  Delaware, as did six mosquito pool samples and 24 horses. During 2003, seventeen human cases, including two deaths, were reported.\n\n\n  Additionally in 2003, 119 birds and 67 horses tested positive for WNV.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Clinical Suspicion\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Most WNV infections (80 percent) are clinically inapparent. Approximately 20 percent 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. Approximately 1 in 150 infections result in severe\n\n\n  neurological disease, more commonly encephalitis than meningitis. The most important risk factor for developing severe neurological\n\n\n  disease is advanced age. Neurologic presentations have included ataxia and extrapyramidal signs, optic neuritis, cranial nerve\n\n\n  abnormalities, polyradiculitis, myelitis, and seizures. Several patients experienced severe muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis. Other\n\n\n  associated symptoms include fever, weakness, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Myocarditis, pancreatitis, and fulminant hepatitis have also\n\n\n  been described. The incubation period of WNV is thought to range from 3 to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito.\n\n\n<\/p>\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 when unexplained encephalitis or meningitis occurs in summer or early fall. Local evidence of WNV enzootic activity or other\n\n\n  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 for birds, horses and humans. Methods include antibody testing and confirmatory neutralization,\n\n\n  as well as PCR and culture. Detection of IgM antibody in human serum or spinal fluid is an effective method for diagnosing WNV infection.\n\n\n  Serum should be collected within eight days of illness onset. False positive antibody results for WNV may occur in patients recently\n\n\n  vaccinated for or infected with related flaviviruses (e.g. yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue).\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  How to Obtain WNV Testing\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  For submission of specimens call the DPH virology laboratory at 302-653-2870.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  All WNV testing should be performed at or confirmed by the DPH Laboratory. Patient samples obtained at hospital labs in Delaware should\n\n\n  automatically be sent to the DPH Laboratory for confirmatory testing. Healthcare providers may request WNV from commercial laboratories.\n\n\n  However, these results should be confirmed by DPHL because some commercial laboratories have reported high false positive rates in the\n\n\n  past. This may require the patient to have a second serum sample drawn. Alternatively, patients can have blood samples drawn, <em>by\n\n\n  appointment only<\/em>, at the Delaware State Service Centers (see contact information below).\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.\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 30% 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  Additional Resources\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>For questions about WNV in humans, and to report suspected human cases, call DPH at 888-295-5156.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>To report sick or dead wild birds, call Mosquito Control between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in New Castle County at (302) 323-4492, and in\n\n\n  Kent or Sussex counties, call (302) 422-1512.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>For general information about mosquito control, contact DNREC at (302) 739-3493.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>For questions about animal health, call the Department of Agriculture at 1-800-282-8685 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or leave a\n\n\n  message after-hours.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>The Center\u2019s for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s WNV website is: <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  <li>State Service Centers with address, hours and phone numbers:\n\n\n    <ol>\n\n\n      <li>Hudson State Service Center, 501 Ogletown Rd, Newark, 8-4:30 by Appointment, 302-283-7587\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n      <li>Porter State Service Center, 509 W. 8th St., Wilmington, 8-4:30 by Appointment, 302-577-3521\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n      <li>Middletown State Service Center, 214 N. Broad St., Middletown, 8-4:30 by Appointment, 302-378-5200\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n      <li>Williams State Service Center, 805 River Rd., Dover, 8-3:30 by Appointment, 302-739-5305\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n      <li>Georgetown State Service Center, 546 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, 8-3:30 by Appointment, 302-856-5213\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n    <\/ol>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul><!--[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 #76 May 17, 2004 8:27 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-10457","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10457","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=10457"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11633,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10457\/revisions\/11633"}],"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=10457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}