West Nile surfaces in county

Clark County's first "probable" human West Nile virus case this year is a man in his 50s, Southern Nevada Health District officials said Monday.

Stephanie Bethel, a health district spokeswoman, said the man recently was hospitalized with symptoms of a severe form of West Nile virus that can cause death. The man, whom the health district did not identify because of privacy concerns, was released from the hospital but is undergoing some rehabilitation, she said.

The case is considered "probable" because confirmatory testing can take several months to complete.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are three forms of West Nile: encephalitis, meningitis and fever. West Nile encephalitis and meningitis are forms of severe disease that affect a person's nervous system. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, and meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal chord.

West Nile fever is the least severe and most common form.

The Clark County case is the second West Nile case reported in Nevada.

Last week, the Nevada State Health Division announced the first human case in Lyon County. The agency also reported mosquitoes with West Nile in Lovelock in Pershing County. Both counties are in Northern Nevada.

Last month, the health district reported mosquitoes in southeast Las Vegas had tested positive for the virus and urged residents to use insect repellent while outside. The mosquitoes were located in the 89122 ZIP code, which includes the Las Vegas Wash, Desert Wetlands Park and Sam Boyd Stadium.

Where the Clark County man was infected with the virus was unknown.

As of Aug. 5, the CDC reported 114 West Nile cases across the United States.

In 2007, 12 West Nile human cases were reported in Nevada.

In addition to wearing bug repellent, residents should remove stagnant water, a breeding ground for mosquitoes, from around their homes, health district officials said.

Residents should report any stagnant water they see, such as green swimming pools, to the health district.

Since January, the health district has received more than 1,900 complaints from residents about green swimming pools across the Las Vegas Valley. Last year, 1,600 green swimming pool complaints had been reported to the health district.

West Nile virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are infected with the virus after feeding off infected birds. West Nile is not spread person to person.

For more information or to report mosquito activity or green swimming pools, go to www.southernnevadahealth district.org or call 759-1220.

Contact reporter Annette Wells at awells@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.