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September 6, 2012

Anderson County's possible West Nile Case deemed 'false positive'

By CHERIL VERNON Palestine Herald-Press

PALESTINE — Anderson County’s first brush with a possible West Nile Virus case has proven to be a “false positive,” according to officials.

“As of today, Anderson County still remained minus West Nile Virus,” City of Palestine Emergency Management Coordinator Schelby Wells said Wednesday. “The possible case we had here turned out to be a ‘false positive.’”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a “false positive” is when an initial test suggests that a person does have a West Nile infection, but a more specific test (confirmatory test) indicates that the person does not actually have the infection.

The City of Palestine has been proactive in efforts to keep the epidemic at bay — spraying several areas within the city limits, according to Wells.

“It is important for our residents to remember that the city spraying is just a part of the effort. Citizens need to be watching around their property for areas of standing water which they can treat themselves by keeping a good sheen of mineral oil over it,” Wells said. “This can be purchased at any store in town. It is benign but will smother out mosquito larva.”

Wells also suggested to check pets’ outside water at least once a week and keep it changed, as well as checking pot plant containers and old tires.

“Anything that can hold water either needs to be discarded if possible, and if not, remember to check for standing water,” Wells said.

The Texas Department of State Health Services suggests the public’s best defense is to practice the “Four D’s.”

“The four D’s are what we are focusing on as prevention is our only means of avoidance,” Wells said. “DUSK TO DAWN, avoid as much as possible; DRESS, long sleeves and long pants; DRAINAGE, check your yard at least once a week; DEET, apply repellent that contains DEET.”

As of Wednesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reports there were 1,013 confirmed human cases of West Nile illness in Texas so far this year, including 40 deaths.

According to the DSHS, West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne illness with two forms — the more severe West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and West Nile fever (WN fever).

The symptoms of WNND include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. West Nile fever symptoms include fever, headache, body aches and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.

Up to 80 percent of people infected with West Nile Virus will have no symptoms and will recover on their own, however, some cases can cause serious illness or death.

People over 50 and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of becoming ill if they become infected with the virus.

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