By Lori EhdeAn Adrian woman has become another Minnesota statistic in the growing number of reported West Nile Virus cases.Jolene Farley developed suspicious symptoms in September, and on Oct. 3, blood tests came back confirming the West Nile diagnosis.While she joins 131 other human West Nile cases reported so far this year in Minnesota, what makes her diagnosis unique is that she’s expecting a baby next month, and she’s the only pregnant West Nile case in the state.Last year, there were only four reported cases of West Nile involving pregnancies in the whole United States, and this year, there are 45. For that reason, doctors don’t have enough case history to offer Farley any guarantees about its effects on her baby."I am concerned," she said, "because there is just very little information out there."Her West Nile symptoms weren’t severe, and she’s had a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, she can’t help having concerns about the virus’ effect on her unborn child.She’s learned of at least one case of a pregnant woman who had been quite ill with the West Nile Virus and later delivered a baby with severe birth defects."The doctors are telling me I have nothing to worry about, but the truth is they really don’t know," Farley said. Conducting her own research, she contacted the Minnesota Department of Health, which asked for her help in their own studies.To monitor the health of her baby, and to learn more about how or if the virus is passed from the womb to the child, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is creating a West Nile registry.Farley was asked to provide information for this registry about herself and her baby. Epidemiologist David Neitzel, who works with Acute Disease Investigation and Control for the Minnesota Department of Health, said Farley’s cooperation will help medical research in this area."We know the virus can be transmitted to the baby in pregnancy, but we’re trying to confirm how often it occurs and what the effects are," Neitzel said."We’re not quite certain of the impact of this virus on unborn babies."Blood samples from Farley and the baby and the umbilical cord will be taken at delivery. A section of the umbilical cord and placenta will be taken, in addition to a sample of breast milk.The process won’t affect the way she or her baby are cared for, and her participation is voluntary.While she describes the ordeal as unsettling, Farley said she’s willing to help."I’m glad to help if it’s going to help other people down the line," she said."It seems like small price to pay, because I could have had the symptoms a lot worse … and I could walk away with no effects at all."If tests reveal that her baby was indeed infected in the womb with West Nile, Farley and her doctors will be asked to provide information about the baby’s health at one month, six months and one year following birth.Neitzel said part of the reason there’s so little information available on West Nile is that most people never show symptoms of the virus."Their bodies’ immune symptoms fight the virus and that’s the end of it," Neitzel said.But, he said with media attention in recent years, people have become more aware of the specific West Nile Virus symptoms and are seeking medical attention."There’s no evidence the disease has become virulent," Neitzel said.He did warn people, especially rural residents, to take more precautions next summer — particularly during peak mosquito season in mid-July through mid-September."People living in rural areas often accept mosquitoes as part of life," Neitzel said. "But we’re asking people to wear repellant when they’re out doing chores or their other outdoor activities."Symptoms usually show up three to 15 days after being bitten. They can include headache, high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and coma.Farley said her condition was also accompanied by a rash similar to the early phase of chicken pox, but she didn’t experience the severe headache.Less than one out of 150 people infected will get severely ill. Severe cases tend to occur more frequently in the elderly.
