Clark County man first case of West Nile in Nevada this year

A Clark County man is Nevada's first case of West Nile virus this year, the Southern Nevada Health District reported Friday.

The man, younger than 50, is suffering from the less severe form of the disease.

The bite occurred somewhere in Southern Nevada, health officials say, but exactly where is still under investigation.

"The where is not that important because once West Nile is found, it is potentially everywhere in the county. People are very mobile. They can be infected at their home, at work or at a softball game. So we can't just focus on one location,'' said Brian Labus, chief epidemiologist for the Health District.

Labus cited federal patient disclosure laws as a reason for the district's decision not to say where in the county the infected person lives.

"As far as we know, he has had no travel history outside the county,'' Labus said. "Obviously if there is a cluster of people in one neighborhood, we would be concerned."

So far this year, no mosquitoes or birds have tested positive for West Nile in Southern Nevada.

A bird in Churchill County and mosquitoes in Elko have tested positive for the virus, said Martha Framsted, a spokeswoman for the Nevada State Health Division.

Whenever a person goes to a hospital or physician and tests positive for West Nile, that information is provided to the Health District, the state's Health Division and eventually the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

West Nile is considered a late summer and early fall seasonal illness.

It is spread to humans through infected mosquitoes. In most cases, people don't experience any symptoms or become ill. Those who do become ill have symptoms similar to those of the common cold or flu.

In severe cases, people might suffer from a throbbing headache, high fever, neck stiffness and disorientation. They also might go into a coma or suffer paralysis, and death is possible.

According to the CDC, people of all ages and conditions can be affected. However, those older than 50 or who have had an organ transplant are at increased risk of severe illness.

Young children also are at high risk.

Last year, 123 people tested positive for West Nile in Nevada. One person died.

Three of those infected lived in Clark County but were believed to have contracted the virus while traveling outside the area, health officials say.

So far this year, human cases of West Nile have been reported in 10 other states, including California, according to the CDC.

Labus said the Southern Nevada Health District's environmental health staff plans to visit the infected person's home to test for West Nile.

"There's really no way to predict a West Nile season,'' Labus said. "Usually, if there's more water, there are more mosquitoes, but we are in a dry season. So it's really hard to say, but somebody always has to be the first case. That's why everyone has to take precautions.''

The easiest way to prevent West Nile infection is to protect yourself from mosquitoes by wearing repellent or long sleeves, if you can bear the extra heat.

People also are urged to remove stagnant water from their homes and to clean their swimming pools.

During a presentation to the Health District's board of health in April, environmental staff said they were responding to more complaints of green pools than in previous years. Most of those complaints involved foreclosed properties.

Staff responded to 1,052 green pool complaints last year.

For more information about West Nile, call 759-1220 or 1-888-608-4623 statewide, or go to www.cdc.gov.