[Namron] THIS WEEKEND: OFF - it's not just for breakfast anymore

[Muriel ingen Gille Crist]

Seriously folks.  If you saw the news in the last couple days, you may  
have seen my boss talking about West Nile Virus. Four people have died  
in Oklahoma from West Nile Virus this season.  Four doesn't sound like  
much, but as we Ansteorrans know, mosquito season is hardly over and  
this is a record-breaking west nile virus season already.  The four  
that died were from Oklahoma, Carter, and Grady counties.  Those of us  
going to Wiesenfeuer Baronial this weekend will be in Stephens county,  
which is right between Carter and Grady counties.  No matter where you  
go this weekend, the number one way to prevent West Nile Virus is to,  
as the saying goes at the OSDH, WEAR YOUR DEET.  Symptoms start 3-14  
days after being bitten. See the news article below and the CDC  
website <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm> for more  
info.
-----------------
Four die in Oklahoma from West Nile

KTEN Local News

TULSA , Okla. A record number of people have died this year from West  
Nile disease this year, and seniors could be at risk for contracting  
the mosquito-born illness.

The identities of those who have died weren't released. Deputy state  
Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley says the vicitims ranged in age from 62  
to 78 and lived in Oklahoma, Carter and Grady counties.

West Nile is a virus most commonly spread by mosquitoes and can cause  
a flu-like sickness in humans. Only in the rarest cases does it cause  
potentially deadly brain swelling, or encephalitis.

It first was reported in Oklahoma in 2002. Last year, 31 cases of the  
virus were reported, with one death. The state's first death this year  
was July 31st.

Bradley says West Nile season typically runs from July to October,  
peaking in August and September. This year, however, the season  
started early when the first mosquitoes testing positive for the virus  
were found in June in Payne County.

Bradley says health officials are targeting the elderly about the  
risks of contracting the disease.

Symptoms include fever, intense headache, extreme tiredness, muscle  
weakness and dizziness.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material  
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
------------------------------
Muriel the overly-informed.