Health department confirms first human case of West Nile Virus in Douglas County in 2019


Health department confirms first human case of West Nile Virus in Douglas County in 2019

Health department confirms first human case of West Nile Virus in Douglas County in 2019


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VIRUS HAS ALREADY TURNED DEADLY. KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S NIYAH GONZALEZ BRINGS US STAND’S — STAN’S ROAD TO RECOVERY. NIYAH: 60-YEAR-OLD STAN MAC, GOING THROUGH PHYSICAL THERAPY AT AMBASSADOR HEALTH NEAR 72ND AND SEWARD STREET. >> I CAN STAND UP. I CAN’T MOVE MY FEET. MY FEET FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GLUED TO FLOOR STILL. >> WHEN HE FIRST GOT HERE, HE COULDN’T FEED HIMSELF BARELY. HE WAS VERY LETHARGIC, VERY, VERY OUT IT. NIYAH: BUT MAC’S WIFE, KATHY, SAYS HE WAS ALWAYS HEALTHY. >> THE MAN CAME HERE WITH SIX PACK ABS. I MEAN, HE WAS THE EPITOME OF HEALTH. NO HEALTH ISSUES WHATSOEVE NIYAH: LAST AUGUST, HE SUDDENLY GOT A RASH. >> HE SAID, “I THINK I HAVE SHINGLES.” AND I SAID, “I DON’T THINK THAT’S SHINGLES, TAKE A BENADRY — BENADRYL” JUST NOT THINKING TOO MUCH OF IT. NIYAH: DAYS LATER, HE BECAME EXTREMELY SICK. >> HE COULD BARELY STAND, WAS THROWING UP, BUT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WEAKER. NIYAH: FINALLY, MAC WENT TO THE E.R. A WEEK LATER, HE WAS DIAGNOED WITH WEST NILE VIRUS. >> HE SIMPLY GOT BIT BY A MOSQUITO. NIYAH: THE VIRUS ATTACKED HIS RESPIRATORY AND NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEMS. >> HE ENDED UP NEEDING TO GO TO THE ICU AND BE INTUBATED. HE WENT SUCH A LONG A TIME WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO EAT, DRINK, SPEAK, ANYTHING. NIYAH: THE TEAM OF RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS GOT HIM BREATHING ON HIS OWN, AND HE SAYS NOW IT’S TIME TO GET WALKING AGAIN. >> NOTHING HAS BEEN EASY, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN VERY HARD. NIYAH: AND THE MACS WANT TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. >> WE ARE JUST SPREADING THE AWARENESS, WEAR THE DEET IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE, BECAUSE LOOK WHAT IT DID TO HIM. NIYAH: IN OMAHA, NIYAH GONZALEZ, KETV NEWSWAT

Health department confirms first human case of West Nile Virus in Douglas County in 2019

The first human case of West Nile Virus in Douglas County for 2019 has been reported, according to Douglas County Health Department officials.Officials said the individual affected is a man over 50 years of age. The man has not been hospitalized.According to officials, high populations of mosquitoes and multiple sample groups of infected mosquitoes have been located near Zorinsky Lake Park and Seymour Smith Park.West Nile Virus cases typically begin to increase around late summer and early fall.Officials said most people infected by the virus have no symptoms or mild symptoms, such as a fever, headache or a rash. Fewer than one in 150 affected people will have a serious illness.People with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to the disease. People 50 years of age and older are also more likely to suffer serious consequences from the disease.Officials issued the following guidelines to help protect yourself from mosquito bites:Apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to follow label instructions.Minimize your activities outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts, plus pants, shoes and socks when you are outdoors.The following steps can help prevent mosquito populations from increasing near where you live:Remove all standing water near your home,Empty buckets and pet dishes daily and bird baths on a weekly basis.Clear weeds and anything else that may obstruct water from draining properly.Follow proper swimming pool maintenance procedures and keep water moving in ponds or fountains.

The first human case of West Nile Virus in Douglas County for 2019 has been reported, according to Douglas County Health Department officials.

Officials said the individual affected is a man over 50 years of age. The man has not been hospitalized.

According to officials, high populations of mosquitoes and multiple sample groups of infected mosquitoes have been located near Zorinsky Lake Park and Seymour Smith Park.

West Nile Virus cases typically begin to increase around late summer and early fall.

Officials said most people infected by the virus have no symptoms or mild symptoms, such as a fever, headache or a rash. Fewer than one in 150 affected people will have a serious illness.

People with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to the disease. People 50 years of age and older are also more likely to suffer serious consequences from the disease.

Officials issued the following guidelines to help protect yourself from mosquito bites:

  • Apply a mosquito repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Be sure to follow label instructions.
  • Minimize your activities outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts, plus pants, shoes and socks when you are outdoors.

The following steps can help prevent mosquito populations from increasing near where you live:

  • Remove all standing water near your home,
  • Empty buckets and pet dishes daily and bird baths on a weekly basis.
  • Clear weeds and anything else that may obstruct water from draining properly.
  • Follow proper swimming pool maintenance procedures and keep water moving in ponds or fountains.


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