West Nile Virus Kills Oakland County Woman

An 81-year-old woman from Oakland County died due to complications from West Nile Virus, the Oakland County Health Division announced Friday.

Her case is the first human West Nile Virus death in Oakland County since 2003 and the first in Michigan this year.

“This is a tragic reminder of how severe West Nile Virus can be, especially for adults over 50 who are at greater risk for severe illness,” George Miller, director of the Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services, said in a press release.

“We strongly encourage residents to protect themselves and family members from mosquitoes, even as we enter the fall season.”

SEE ALSO:

• More Human Cases of West Nile Virus in Oakland County
• Michigan Reports First Human Cases of West Nile Virus
• West Nile Virus Confirmed in Oakland County
• West Nile Virus Confirmed in Wayne County

West Nile Virus is typically transmitted via mosquito bites. People age 50 and up are more at risk for developing a severe illness, the press release warned.

Seventy to 80 percent of people infected with West Nile Virus do not develop symptoms, according to the CDC. About one in five people show symptoms like headaches, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash.

The most severe cases happen in less than one percent of those infected, according to the CDC. These patients develop serious inflammation of their brain tissue. Symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures or paralysis.

About 10 percent of patients in those severe cases die. No vaccines are currently available for West Nile Virus.

Patch reached out to the Oakland County Health and Human Services Division for more information on the case.

The press release offered these tips for avoiding mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of insect repellents containing active ingredients registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Always follow manufacturer’s directions carefully.
• Be careful using repellant on the hands of children because it may irritate their eyes and mouths.
• Wear protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Limit outdoor activity from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Avoid areas where mosquitoes may be present such as shaded and wooded areas.
• Maintain window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of buildings.