Two NC adults die after contracting West Nile

Two North Carolina residents have died from West Nile virus this season, state health officials have confirmed, as cases of the mosquito-borne disease continue to rise across the country.

The first death involved a Goldsboro man who died on August 13, marking the first fatality from the disease in North Carolina this year. The second victim was a 77-year-old woman from Cabarrus County, who died after developing complications from West Nile virus.

There are currently five active West Nile cases in North Carolina, with confirmed cases reported in Cabarrus, Forsyth, Mecklenburg, Scotland and Wayne counties.

A Rare but Serious Risk

State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Carl Williams stressed that the disease is rarely fatal. "West Nile virus is actually a fairly common infection," he said. "It's estimated that only about 20 percent of people that actually become infected with the virus actually develop a mild form of illness."

About one in 150 infected people develops a serious neurological illness. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. There is no vaccine for West Nile virus for humans, and no medication can cure the disease after infection.

A Broader National Surge

Federal health officials have reported that West Nile virus cases nationally are up 40 percent, and are on pace to rival the record years of 2002 and 2003. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,590 cases of the disease and 66 deaths so far this year, with half of all cases concentrated in Texas.

In North Carolina, the virus was found in multiple mosquitoes collected in Cabarrus, Forsyth and Mecklenburg counties, with positive results appearing earlier in the summer than historically reported.

How to Protect Yourself

Health officials are urging North Carolinians to take simple precautions as mosquito season continues through October:

• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent, especially between dusk and dawn
• Wear long sleeves, pants and socks when outdoors in the evening
• Eliminate standing water in flower pots, gutters, discarded containers and kiddie pools
• Keep window screens and door screens in good repair

Anyone who is ill and thinks they may have West Nile virus should contact a health care provider.