West Nile virus case in Kalamazoo Co.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - Kalamazoo County has reported its first human case of West Nile virus for 2012.

A news release from the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services did not reveal the identity of the person.

State officials are calling the West Nile virus an epidemic, as there are 80 confirmed cases, four of which have resulted in deaths, so far this year.

One of those deaths occurred in Kent County, where 25 other residents have also contracted the virus.

There is also one infected person each in Allegan, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

WNV has also been found in livestock and wildlife across the state.

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Severe symptoms for humans can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

Milder symptoms are fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

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Measures to prevent West Nile virus,  provided by the Michigan Department of Community Health:

• Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of buildings.
• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes lay eggs.
• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other EPA approved repellent to exposed skin or clothing, especially during peak mosquito activity periods such as dusk and dawn.
• Wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

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Online:

West Nile virus information via CDC

West Nile virus fact sheet and how to prevent it