Four new West Nile cases confirmed, one in EBR

The state Department of Health and Hospitals confirmed Friday finding four new cases of West Nile Virus in people, including one person in East Baton Rouge Parish.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in the state to 14, according to a news release from DHH.

The four new cases are from Bossier, East Baton Rouge, St. Tammany and West Baton Rouge parishes.

In its most severe form, West Nile Virus can cause a neuroinvasive illness that results in a swelling of the brain or spinal cord which puts the ill person at risk of brain damage or death, according to the press release.

Other people who are infected with the virus will get a fever while most, about 90 percent of people, never get sick and only find out they have West Nile if they get blood work done or donate blood.

This year, St. Tammany, Rapides and Vernon parishes each have one case of neuroinvasive disease, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana and Rapides parishes each have a confirmed case of West Nile fever and Bossier, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany
and West Baton Rouge parishes each have one case where the person didn’t have any symptoms.

Tangipahoa Parish has three cases of people with no symptoms, according to the release.

West Nile Virus is spread through the bite of mosquitoes.

People are reminded to use a mosquito repellent with DEET and to limit mosquito habitat around the house
by emptying any container that might contain water, particularly with the recent rainfall.