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West Nile found in Mitchell

• A second case of West Nile Virus is discovered in Southwest Georgia.

Susan McCord

CAMILLA — An elderly Camilla woman who enjoyed sitting on her porch is the health district’s second confirmed case of West Nile Virus this year, District Health Director Jacqueline Grant announced Tuesday.

The 82-year-old woman is in a hospital intensive care unit and is “improving” from the mosquito-borne illness, Grant said.

She is the first reported case in Mitchell County for the season and the 17th in Georgia, including a northwest Albany woman who last week became Dougherty’s first confirmed case, according to district public health epidemiologist Jackie Jenkins.

“We have been urging residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and to control mosquito breeding because the signs pointed to this being an extremely active mosquito season,” Jenkins said.

Regular spraying programs have been in effect in both Camilla and Mitchell County, according to Mitchell County Emergency Management Director Anne Lamb.

Carried by mosquitoes who have bitten infected birds, West Nile Virus may occasionally cause serious illness or even death, Grant said.

Most infected people do not have symptoms.

“Those with a mild infection may experience flu-like symptoms, such as headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes and rashes,” Grant said.

A smaller number may develop serious illnesses, such as meningitis, the swelling of the membrane around the spinal cord, or encephalitis, swelling of the brain, she said.

Treatment for serious West Nile disease is supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, respiratory care, pain management and physical therapy, if necessary, Grant said.

The best way to avoid West Nile is to avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellant and avoiding outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most active: dawn and dusk, she said.

Insect repellant should include the active ingredients DEET, oil or lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin.

Window screens should be repaired to keep mosquitoes out.

Any standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so drain resevoirs — old tires, ditches, cans — of any size, officials said.

In 2006, only eight Georgians contracted West Nile Virus, but three were Dougherty County residents. One of the Dougherty cases was a fatality.

Jenkins and community volunteers began a Dougherty neighborhood campaign last month, taking a warning message door to door in East Albany neighborhoods. The campaign continues now along Highland Avenue, health officials said.

The Dougherty Health Department is hosting a West Nile awareness program at 6 p.m. today at 1710 S. Slappey Blvd.

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