Saturday September 1, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Friday August 30 reported the state’s second death from mosquito-borne West Nile virus.   The man in his 70's from the south-central part of the state died this month.

The first person who died from West Nile virus in the end of July in the state was a man in his eighties from the Panhandle.

"My sympathies for the family’s loss," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health. "Unfortunately, people over age 50 are the most at risk from the serious consequences of West Nile."

So far, 46 human cases of West Nile have been reported in the state from 27 counties including Adams, Antelope, Boone, Buffalo, Cedar, Clay, Dawson, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Furnas, Garden, Hall, Harlan, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Perkins, Madison, Platte, Rock, Saunders, Scotts Bluff, Seward, Thayer, Thomas and Webster.

Last year, 264 human cases including two deaths from the disease were reported. This compares to 188 in 2005 (five deaths), 57 in 2004 (no deaths), 2,366 in 2003 (29 deaths) and 174 in 2002 (eight deaths).

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of a mosquito that has fed on an infected bird, according to the DHHS.  

"Mosquitoes are very active right now," Dr. Schaefer said. "It’s the peak time to catch the virus, so it’s important to take precautions."

Nationwide, as of August 28, 741 human cases of mosquito-borne West Nile virus infection have been reported to U.S. Geological Survey, which keeps monitoring the virus activity in individual states. The number based on individual state's accounts should be much higher.

So far, human cases of West Nile have been reported in states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

This year, West Nile virus activity has been found in birds, mosquitoes or other animals collected from the states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Eighty percent of people who are infected with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus do not show any symptoms. But about 20 percent experience symptoms including fever, headache and body aches.    In serious cases, the virus results in encephalitis and meningitis and even death.  

People who are older than 50 years of age and those whose immune systems are compromised are at the highest risk of severe implications by the West Nile virus. These people should use protection to avoid mosquito bites.

To avoid mosquitoes, the Illinois Department of Public Health suggests the following:     

Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present.     

When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.     

Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.      

Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.