The first human cases of West Nile reported this year to La. – KATC.com | Continuous news coverage

The Louisiana Department of Health today reported the first human cases of West Nile virus for this year.

Six cases are reported; at this time last year, seven cases had been reported.

This year's cases break down as follows:

Three cases of neuroinvasive disease: one case each in the parishes of DeSoto, St. Tammany and Livingston,
* The NID case reported previously in the parish of Tangipahoa was changed at the parish of Livingston. The person lives in a rural area very close to the border between the two parishes.

Two cases of fever: one in the parishes of East Baton Rouge and Ouachita

An asymptomatic case in the parish of East Baton Rouge who was diagnosed with a blood donation.

Here are the explanations for each type of case:

Neuroinvasive Disease of West Nile – This is the most serious type, infecting the brain and spinal cord. A neuroinvasive disease can lead to death, paralysis and brain damage.

West Nile Fever – A mild viral infection in which the symptoms resemble those of the flu.

Asymptomatic – The majority of people who contract West Nile virus will be asymptomatic, which means they have no symptoms. These cases are usually detected by donated blood or during other routine medical tests.

Here are some tips from the Department:

Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes

• If you are outdoors, you should wear a repellent mosquito containing DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents contain no more than 30% of DEET when they are used on children. Insect repellents are also not recommended for children under two months old. CDC recommends that you always follow the recommendations on the product label when using a repellent.
• Apply repellent to exposed skin and clothing. Do not apply under clothing or on scuffed skin. Apply a repellent on face, spray on hands and then rub on face.
• Adults should always apply a repellent on children.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants
• Avoid perfumes and colognes outdoors for extended periods of time.
• Make sure doors and windows are tight and all mosquito nets are free of holes

] Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds

• Reduce mosquito population by eliminating water stagnant around your house, where mosquitoes breed.
• Throw away tin cans, ceramic pots and other useless containers that have accumulated on your property. Flip wheelbarrows, plastic wading pools, buckets, garbage cans, children's toys or anything that could collect water.
• Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers. The drainage holes on the sides of the container collected enough water for the mosquitoes to reproduce.
• Check and clean roof gutters regularly. They are often overlooked, but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.
• Ventilate ornamental ponds or store with fish. Water gardens can become big mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
• Clean and chlorinate pools that are not in use. A pool left unattended by a family for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to cause neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware that mosquitoes can even breed in the water that accumulates on pool covers.