West Nile Virus detected in Douglas

Iliana Z. Gamez/The Daily Dispatch

In the midst of the hot summer and abundant rainfall, the presence of mosquitoes has managed to cause worry and fear of contracting West Nile Virus.

Unfortunately, this fear has come true for Douglas residents Stanley Daugherty and his son Dennis Daugherty.

According to Dennis Daugherty, doctors have diagnosed his 83-year-old father with West Nile Virus. Stanley Daugherty began showing signs of illness on Monday, August 21 and was seen by doctors at the Veteran's Administration Clinic of Sierra Vista.

During his medical visit, he was transferred to the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Tucson where doctors diagnosed him with the West Nile Virus after several days of medical tests.

Daugherty, who has been in the hospital for 8 days, is under intensive care and close observation by medical staff.

"His recovery doesn't look very good. My father is still incoherent and doctors are trying experimental medications and feeding him intravenously to try and help his recovery," said Dennis Daugherty.

The recovery has been difficult for Daugherty because as a result of contracting the West Nile Virus at his age, he has contracted spinal meningitis and other related complications.

His son Dennis says that his father's illness came about from a sudden fever and back pains. "My father collapsed and was barely coherent due to this disease when it struck, and I want other people to take precautions so they don't have to go through the complications of the West Nile Virus."

The virus seems to be affecting the Southern Arizona region; health officials recently reported a case of an infected woman in her 30's in Pima County. The Cochise County Health Department also had a West Nile Virus human case reported to them.

Carla Jensen, the Public Risk & Relations Officer for Cochise County Health Department said, "As of August 23, 2006 one human case in Douglas was reported to us.

Furthermore we have no record of mosquitoes that have tested positive for the virus, but with all the rain present it's imminent that mosquitoes will be an issue of concern."

With more rain and mosquitoes, a chance of contracting the West Nile Virus grows greater. Some of the symptoms you may encounter if infected include fever, headaches, back pains, tiredness and body aches, occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.

The Center of Disease Control also states that more complicated symptoms can be present. Other symptoms of the severe disease, also referred to as neuroinvasive disease, are West Nile encephalitis or meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis. These include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

However, the CDC states that the only 1 of 150 people infected with the virus will develop more serious symptoms such as those above and that also depends on several factors such as age, immune system, present health condition or being a transplant patient.

As of August 22, 2006 the CDC has 5 cases of West Nile Virus infections in Arizona.

With growing concern over getting infected with the WNV, here are several methods to protect yourself from any disease carriers:

ˆ Make sure doors and windows have tight screens and make any repairs necessary.

ˆ Use mosquito repellants on exposed skin, especially in an area where mosquitoes are present.

ˆ Eliminate standing water (clogged gutters, pool covers, pools of water and dispose of any containers that accumulate water.

ˆ Remind other to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.

ˆ Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and closed shoes.

ˆ Encourage local officials to help treat problem areas

ˆ Be aware of the times mosquitoes are most active (at dusk and dawn, April through October)

ˆ Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs-if not in use cover.

ˆ Learn more about your community's mosquito control program and contact local official that can help and give you advice.

For further information, questions or concerns relative to this matter, call the Cochise County Health Department at 432-9400, or contact the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in your area.