Saturday, September 09, 2006

West Nile & The Woodlands, Texas

Just a word to my wise local readers, West Nile has been found throughout The Woodlands, including in a friend's yard in Panther Creek. One man has died in recent weeks and more are sick.

If you or a family member suffers from cold or flu symptoms, please take them seriously. Most healthy people with strong immune systems should fight the virus no problem, but small children, the immune compromised (otherwise sick and that can even mean bad allergies) and the elderly are at risk.

The virus can cause mild flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, sore throat and body aches.

It also can cause serious neurological symptoms including stiff neck, visual problems, body tremors, seizures and mental confusion, and in severe cases meningitis or encephalitis.

''Most people die due to complications from the symptoms," Williams said.

A total of 85 people statewide have contracted the disease so far, compared with last year's total of 128, she said. All had the type of West Nile virus that affects the nervous system.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for keeping us up to date on this! Mosquitos love me and my children and they are really bad in some of the parks around The Woodlands. I even have had some of these symptoms that the article mentions. Now I'm wondering about it! Is this virus determinded by blood tests?