OAKDALE LEADER
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Wednesday, September 7, 2005 10:43 AM PDT

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency announced three additional confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Stanislaus County on Monday, Sept. 2, as new cases continue to pop up, but the agency also continues to offer no new insight into the outbreak.

Releases from the agency do advise area residents to maintain their vigilance regarding protection against mosquito bites, and to be alert to potential sites where mosquitoes could be breeding.

Lloyd Douglass, manager of the East Side Mosquito Abatement District (ESMAD), reports that his agency is continuing to spray hot spots throughout the county when they are reported, and his teams are out in the areas on a regular basis looking for indications of mosquito breeding areas. Large-scale spraying in the City of Oakdale was completed on Friday, Sept. 2, prior to Labor Day weekend.

The three current cases reported by the health services agency include a 35 year-old, a 51 year-old and an 84 year-old, all females, with West Nile virus fever. There have been 60 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in Stanislaus County in 2005.

"The majority of our cases do not recall being bitten by a mosquito," said Dr. John Walker, health officer for the county. "It's not enough for people just to be on the lookout for mosquitoes; people need to continue precautions such as using repellant with DEET, or the two new agents approved by the FDA. One contains picaridin and the other oil of eucalyptus. All three preparations are available locally."

On Sept 1, the agency announced four confirmed human cases of West Nile virus; and on Aug. 31, six new cases.

The Sept. 1 cases include a 19 year-old diagnosed with neuroinvasive disease, who was hospitalized and has been discharged; a 61 year-old female, a 38 year-old female, and a 26 year-old female with West Nile virus fever.

The Aug. 31 cases ranged in ages from 28 to 68 years old and included three males and three females. One is a 52-year old male diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, who was hospitalized and was discharged. The five remaining cases were all diagnosed with West Nile virus fever.

"The majority of our cases do not recall being bitten by a mosquito," said Dr. Walker. "It's not enough for people just to be on the lookout for mosquitoes; people need to continue precautions such as using repellant with DEET, or the two new agents approved by the FDA. One contains picaridin and the other oil of eucalyptus. All three preparations are available locally."

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