West Nile virus antibodies have been found in a 72-year-old Rock County woman by the South Dakota Health Department, according to Nobles-Rock Public Health Service.
Case information was reported to the Minnesota Department of Health Tuesday and blood samples were forwarded to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, for confirmation. Results from Atlanta may take several weeks.
The woman was hospitalized with symptoms including low blood pressure, body rash, dizziness, headache, slight neck pain and slight nausea. After no signs of encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, the woman was released.
"This case of West Nile virus was not unexpected," said David Neitzel, epidemiologist from MDH specializing in diseases transmitted by mosquitoes to humans, in a press release.
"We have been monitoring the state closely and have known that the potential was there since the virus first appeared in the state in July."
Nine dead birds and 256 horses from southwestern and central Minnesota have tested positive for West Nile. This means that the mosquitoes responsible for the transmission of West Nile Virus to birds and horses are present in southwest Minnesota.
Minnesota likely will not experience anything close to the number of cases that occurred in Louisiana, Mississippi or Texas, according to Neitzel.
He reiterated the threat of any one person becoming ill from West Nile virus is extremely low. Most mosquitoes don't carry the virus so most people bitten by a mosquito have not been exposed. West Nile cannot be spread by contact with an infected person.
Fewer than one out of 150 people infected will become severely ill. Of those infected, most people will have no symptoms at all or mild symptoms.
Symptoms typically appear three to 15 days after being bitten and can include headache, high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma. Severe cases tend to occur more frequently in the elderly.
While the mild symptoms can mimic the common cold and flu, staff at Luverne Medical Center say they havenÕt had requests to be tested by those suspecting they have the virus.
West Nile Virus first appeared in New York City in 1999 and has now been found in 41 states. By 2002, West Nile had affected 480 people, resulting in 24 deaths nationwide.
People who have questions about West Nile virus may call Nobles-Rock Public Health Service at 888-807-8099 or 372-8256 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
To reduce risk of being bitten, Minnesotans should:
Protect themselves with mosquito repellent containing no more than 30 percent of the active ingredient DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends products containing no more than 10 percent or less of DEET for children.
Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants if you have to spend time in an area where mosquitoes are biting.
Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes feed.
Eliminate possible mosquito-breeding sites on and around property - including items such as old tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters, birdbaths, cans and other containers and anything else that can hold a small amount of water.