Payette Co. man infected with West Nile Meningitis
Southwest District Health have confirmed the first human case of West Nile Meningitis in Payette County.
The victim is a male in his fifties. He was hospitalized. This is the fourth human case of West Nile reported in Idaho in 2012.
“We know that anyone at any age, bitten by an infected mosquito is at risk for West Nile Virus. However, adults over the age of 50, with other underlying medical conditions or a weakened immune system are at a greater risk of having serious illness,” said Jennifer Tripp, Public Health Program Manager for Southwest District Health.
Only one in five people infected with the disease develop symptoms of the virus, which include fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash. These symptoms can last for only a few days, or may last for several weeks. Symptoms typically occur from 3 to 14 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. There is no specific treatment for infection but in more severe cases, people usually need hospitalization.
Mosquitoes can bite anytime, but those carrying West Nile are generally more active between dusk and dawn.
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