15 West Nile cases reported in Louisiana

Mosquito Control Inc. officials say residents in the Tri-parishes should not be alarmed with the recent diagnoses of the West Nile virus in other parts of Southeast Louisiana.

The Houma-based company has increased the number of times they were spraying the area, at the same time 15 new West Nile cases were diagnosed in Louisiana, none of which were reported in the Lafourche or Terrebonne parishes.

Five of the cases are severe infections of the brain and spinal cord. These occurred in Bossier, Caddo, Concordia, Jefferson and Orleans parishes. This brings the total cases diagnosed this year to 190 cases. Of the 190, 88 of them were dangerous “neuro-invasive” form of the disease.

“Doctors are just now diagnosing these cases from way back in early August and late September,” said anthropologist Steve Pavlovich. “These are not recent cases, the encephalitis transmission in humans is coming toward the end.”

However, Pavlovich said it is always good for the residents to not let their guards down throughout the year.

According to the state Department of Health and Hospitals, there were nine cases of West Nile fever, the milder form of the virus that causes flu-like symptoms. These cases include two from Baton Rouge, and one cases each from Ascension, Franklin, St. Tammy and Tangipahoa parishes. There were also milder cases in Jefferson, Orleans and Caddo parishes.

The health and hospital officials can confirm one case of asymptomatic West Nile reported from St. Mary Parish, the people with these cases do not feel ill and do not know they have an infection. These cases are typically detected through blood donations or routine medical tests.

Local mosquito control officials say to avoid West Nile virus, apply mosquito repellant, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and avoid wearing perfume or cologne when outside for a prolonged period of time. Also, remove any standing water from around the home and make sure the windows and doors have secure screens.

About two weeks ago, the mosquito control increased its number of daily mosquito sprays in the Terrebonne-Lafourche areas because of a jump in number of mosquitoes across the area.

According to Pavlovich, the increased mosquitoes were due to the weather conditions. Normally, around this time of year the population is lower and requires very little spraying.

“Since the rain and cooler weathers come, we are back to the once-a-day and the levee spraying because for us to be more effective, we have to spray in temperatures above 50 degrees,” he said.

The anthropologist said the increase was not something they expected for this time of the year because there haven’t been any natural disasters. “Last year after Hurricane Katrina, we sprayed right through the months of December, January and February because the high tides flooded the marshes and caused the mosquito eggs to hatch rapidly,” he said.

The Mosquito Control spokesman said when Hurricane Katrina hit, it affected the makeup of the marshes allowing additional breeding sites to be formed and causing a higher population of mosquitoes.

Pavlovich said the decision to increase the spray times was made to ensure that more areas would be covered in hopes of cutting the number of mosquitoes multiplying in the areas. “Salt marsh mosquitoes are aggressive, therefore we have to be aggressive toward them,” he said.

Pavlovich said he doesn’t know what to expect for the months of December, January and February this year, but said officials are keeping a close watch on the mosquito increases.

Sophia Ruffin can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or sophia@tri-parishtimes.com