SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR RELEASE: August 23, 2003
CONTACT: Doneen Hollingsworth, 605-224-9923

SD announces first West Nile Virus death

     PIERRE – Secretary of Health Doneen Hollingsworth today announced South Dakota’s first West Nile virus death. The elderly Clay County resident died August 22 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. The cause of death was West Nile meningoencephalitis. To protect patient confidentiality, additional information about the deceased is not being released.

     “Our sympathy is with the family and we can only hope their tragic loss will encourage others to take seriously the threat of West Nile and take steps to protect themselves,” said Hollingsworth. 

     Hollingsworth said the elderly are at particular risk from West Nile. She urged all South Dakotans and visitors to the state to wear mosquito repellant, stay inside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, and to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to reduce exposure to mosquitoes. 

     She also encouraged South Dakota residents to support their community’s mosquito control efforts by eliminating mosquito-breeding grounds on their own property. Drain flowerpots and other containers that hold water, fill in ruts, check gutters for pooling water, recycle old tires, and store usable tires in a shed or garage.

     As of August 22, South Dakota had reported 210 cases of West Nile virus, compared to 37 in 2002. The virus has been detected in humans, horses, birds, or mosquitoes in 61 of the state’s 66 counties. 

     The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that only 1 in 150 people infected with WNV will experience severe infection, which is called West Nile encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) or meningoencephalitis, a combination of both.  Nationally, 10 percent of people with West Nile encephalitis die. Symptoms of WNV encephalitis, meningitis and meningoencephalitis include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should see their health care provider.

     More information about West Nile Virus is available on the department’s web site at www.state.sd.us/doh/WestNile.