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American Morning

Possible First Human Case of West Nile Virus in Florida

Aired July 24, 2001 - 11:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Health officials in Florida are looking at what they believe could be the state's first human case of West Nile virus. The patient has been hospitalized in critical condition.

We get the latest now from Jackelyn Barnard. She's with our CNN affiliate WTLV.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JACKELYN BARNARD, WTLV REPORTER (voice-over): The Holland family has lived in Jefferson county 30 years. In that time, the Hollands haven't been afraid to leave their home -- until now.

EVELYN HOLLAND: Everybody in this area is really afraid of the Nile virus. So we try to keep all the kids in.

BARNARD: These days, time outside is spent behind a screen, a safety net, of sorts, from mosquitoes that may be carrying the West Nile virus.

HOLLAND: One of our neighbors that's less than a mile had one horse that died, and they think it was the Nile virus.

BARNARD: And now doctors with the Florida Department of Health say a Madison County man has tested positive with the virus.

DR. STEVEN WINERSMA, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: The patient is quite ill, was hospitalized, and samples were submitted to our state laboratory. They were tested, and they came back positive. But this is the first time we've seen this in Florida.

BARNARD: The news means Evelyn Holland's grandchildren can only play outside during the hottest part of the day, when mosquitoes aren't around. But at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes return, everyone is back inside.

HOLLAND: It's bad that you have to keep them so tightly corralled and enclosed, but you have to do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: That report from Jackelyn Barnard of our CNN affiliate WTLV. A second case of an animal with West Nile virus has been confirmed here in Georgia. West Nile virus killed nine people in New York City and New Jersey last year and the year before.

Joining us with more on this is our medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland.

Rhonda, scary stuff, but so far, it appears that more birds have shown up with this than actual people.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. So what we want to say here is do not panic. That's very important. Your chances of actually getting West Nile are very slim.

To break this down a little bit, we have a map to show you, of where in the United States West Nile activity has been found. In the last two years, since 1999, when it was first detected in New York City, it has now spread to 14 states and the District of Columbia, and as you can see, it's all along the Eastern seaboard. And even though we have had West Nile activity in all those areas, we have only had people with the actual virus in New York, New Jersey, and now a case in Florida.

If you are unlucky enough to be bitten by mosquito infected with West Nile, only one of 100 people infected will actually any symptoms, and Daryn, of those, only 10 percent will have a really severe case.

KAGAN: And those tend to be older people.

ROWLAND: Older people -- people over the age of 50 -- and they've also found they tend to have underlying medical problems, such as diabetes, perhaps high blood pressure. So it's really older, sicker people that really need to be more concerned about this.

KAGAN: Be careful, stay covered up -- and the bug spray.

ROWLAND: And the bug spray. Make sure it has DEET. It's very important to have that. It's very important to have that.

KAGAN: DEET. I just learned that last week. I'm a catering service for mosquitoes; they see me, and they come right at me.

So be careful.

ROWLAND: Don't panic.

KAGAN: Don't panic.

ROWLAND: That's right.

KAGAN: Rhonda Rowland, thank you so much.

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