What Stoneham should know about the West Nile virus
Published on November 21st, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - West Nile virus struck just west of Stoneham, claiming the life of a 70-year-old Woburn man last month. But Stoneham Health Inspector Lou-Ann Clement says locals should not be alarmed.
Only 13 people have died nation-wide since the disease was identified in the United States in 1999. Doctors first diagnosed the disease in 1937 in the West Nile district of Uganda.
The Woburn man was the first death in Massachusetts and only the second human case in the state. (An 89-year-old man from Acushnet was recently hospitalized.) In comparison, thousands of Americans die of complications from the flu each year.
Most healthy, young to middle-aged adults can fight off the West Nile virus. The virus causes nothing more than mild illness 99 percent of the time, but it can cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or meningitis (swelling of the lining of the brain and spinal cord).
But even for the more susceptible populations — children and seniors — fall and winter are safe because the mosquitoes responsible for transferring the disease from birds to mammals are not around.
“The first frost has come, so the mosquito population is dormant,” Clement said. “The state doesn’t even accept any dead birds during this time.”
Clement said people should let common sense guide their approach to prevention and treatment.
“If people are not feeling well, they should always call their doctor,” Clement said.
Some of the symptoms of West Nile virus are high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, severe headaches, a stiff neck and sensitivity to light.
When the warm weather returns, people can take some simple steps to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile virus. Eliminating standing pools of water from property, wheelbarrows and clogged gutters for example; wearing insect repellent with deet; wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors; and reporting all dead birds and sick birds.
The state is not accepting any more birds this year, but the number for next year is 1-866-MASS. The state tests the animals and monitors the disease.
For more information on this or any other public health matters, Stoneham residents may call the Health Department at 781-279-2621.
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