West Nile virus has killed 2 men in El Paso this year, health officials say
Two people have died from West Nile virus in El Paso, health officials announced Tuesday.
The patients were men in their 60s and 70s with underlying medical conditions who lived in the 79936 and 79907 ZIP codes.
The city of El Paso Department of Public Health confirmed the deaths due to severe central nervous system West Nile virus this year.
“The community needs to take into account that for most people a mosquito bite is a nuisance, but for others it can be very serious particularly for those with medical conditions that impair their immune system’s ability to fight infection if the mosquito is carrying a disease like West Nile,” City-County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza said in a news release. “As long as we still have mosquitoes biting in El Paso, the threat of disease continues to be present.”
Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting and swollen lymph glands.
Eight out of 10 people infected with the virus will not develop symptoms, officials said in the news release. However, one in five infected people will develop West Nile fever, which also includes a fever and other symptoms such as joint pain, headaches or a rash.
About one out of 150 infected people develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system; about one out of 10 cases of severe illness are fatal.
People older than 60 are at the highest risk of serious illness.
People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease or organ transplants also are at high risk.
Tips to avoid mosquito bites
Officials say the best way to avoid exposure to mosquito-borne diseases is to practice “The Four D’s”:
DEET – Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone outdoors. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions.
Dress – When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing, so it’s recommended to spray your clothes with repellent.
Dusk and dawn – Although mosquitoes associated with West Nile can be active throughout the day, residents should take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (from dusk to dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
Drain – Reduce the number of mosquitoes around and outside a home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths regularly. Don’t forget to change a pet’s water bowl daily.
People can mosquito-proof homes by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. Residents can report standing water and mosquito breeding by calling 915-212-6000.
For more information and tips, visit EPHealth.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: West Nile virus has killed 2 in El Paso in 2022, health officials say
