BATON ROUGE, La. –Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital has confirmed three additional human cases of the West Nile Virus, and one of them has the potentially deadly neuro-invasive disease.
The neuro-invasive disease case is an adult in Vernon Parish. The other infected adults are in Tangipahoa Parish.
A neuro-invasive illness is severe and typically results in a swelling of the brain or spinal cord.
Only a very small number of infected individuals will show the serious symptoms that come with the disease.
Louisiana has experienced a total of four West Nile Virus cases this year.
DHH Says Protect Yourself
- If you will be outside, you should wear a mosquito repellent containing 20 - 30 percent DEET for adults and no more than 10 percent for children.
- Apply repellent on exposed skin and clothing. Do not apply under your clothes or on broken skin.
- To apply repellent to your face, spray on your hands and then rub on your face.
- Adults should always apply repellent to children.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors for long periods of time.
- Avoid perfumes and colognes when outdoors for extended periods of time.
- Make sure that your house has tight-fitting windows and doors, and that all screens are free of holes.
For more tips and information, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.
