NewsMax.com Wires
Saturday, Aug. 18, 2001

The 71-year-old woman was the fourth known human case of West Nile virus in the United States this year. Two north Florida residents and a New York woman have been diagnosed with the virus so far this summer.

Dr. Adewale Troutman, director of Fulton County's Department of Health and Wellness, said the woman, who lived in downtown Atlanta, died last Saturday, almost two weeks after she was admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital.

"This morning we received the presumptive diagnosis from the Centers for Disease Control that caused us to make this announcement this afternoon," Troutman said.

Troutman stressed that it is rare for the virus to be fatal.

The virus is carried by migratory birds and can be transmitted to humans or animals through a mosquito bite, to be fatal.

"Less than one percent of mosquitoes are carrying this virus. Most individuals, if bitten with an infected mosquito, will not in fact develop any significant symptoms or any significant disease. Most have immune systems that will throw it off," he said.

The virus has been found in 39 birds in Georgia during the five weeks, state health officials said. Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell said the city would begin an aggressive mosquito spraying program.

West Nile can cause encephalitis in humans, leading to headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, sensitivity to light and confusion. The virus can also be fatal for horses and birds.

On Wednesday, the CDC confirmed that a bluejay found in Kenner, La., had been killed by the West Nile virus. It was the farthest west that the virus had been found since it was first detected two years ago during an outbreak in New York.

New York City stepped up mosquito spraying this week after 24 pools of mosquitoes on Staten Island tested positive for West Nile virus. Nine people in New York and New Jersey have died from the virus since 1999.

Copyright 2001 by United Press International.

All rights reserved.

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