West Nile virus is spread to humans through mosquito bites. Birds act as reservoirs for the virus so that it becomes available to mosquitoes each season.

In a report released Thursday, state health officials said the three cases in Livingston were joined by three new cases in that parish, four from East Baton Rouge, and one from West Baton Rouge, giving the general Baton Rouge area nearly half of the state's confirmed cases.

"We may not have reached the peak of the activity," East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control District Director Matt Yates said.

State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard said the most recent statistics show a higher than normal number of more serious cases.

Of the 26 cases statewide, 15 have neuro-invasive symptoms of West Nile, the most serious form of the disease.

Neuro-Invasive Damage

Neuro-invasive cases are where the brain, brain lining or spinal cord have swollen and neurological damage has occurred. Most people infected experience only flu-like symptoms and a rash, but some cases become more serious and lead to neuro-invasive damage or death.

"In several of the parishes where we saw human cases reported this week, there was no recent dead bird activity to predict human cases," Ratard said. "This should be a reminder that people should not count on dead birds as a predictor of human cases. Everyone throughout the state is at risk and should take appropriate precautions."

Other parishes with confirmed cases include: Bossier (1), Caddo (2), DeSoto (1), Jefferson (1), Natchitoches (1), Orleans (2), Ouachita (3), St. Landry (1), Terrebonne (1) and Vernon (1).

Public health officials are also testing many sample cases received in the past week, indicating the virus is starting to spread throughout the state.

40% of Mosquitoes Test Positive

The virus is "widespread" in East Baton Rouge, Yates said. "About 40 percent of the [captured] mosquitoes we submitted each week (for testing) are positive, and we are still getting positive birds."

"The peak activity seems to be in this area, he said. West Baton Rouge had more positive [pools of] mosquitoes than we did," he said.

"Three of the four human cases for East Baton Rouge are pretty recent," all three since July 9, Yates said. "The other is unknown" date of onset of symptoms. One East Baton Rouge Parish case "was in north Baton Rouge, one near Thomas and Plank roads and one in the Sherwood Forest area, so they are literally spread all over the parish," Yates said, adding they were all neuro-invasive.

"The one I didn't mention is over near Foster [Drive] and Government Street area ... . That may be an older case," Yates said. "I don't think it is a recent case, based on what I have been able to get so far."

"We are continuing to spray and work overtime," Yates said. "There are not any changes [in the district's abatement effort] and there won't be until we see a turndown in activities," he said.

Spread Through Mosquito Bites

West Nile virus is spread to humans through mosquito bites. Birds act as reservoirs for the virus so that it becomes available to mosquitoes each season. The virus kills some species, and dead birds are often the first sign of the virus in an area.

In previous years, the first cases of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illness began appearing in late June or early July.

Last year, the state recorded 114 cases of West Nile and seven deaths. In 2003 there were 122 cases and seven deaths from the disease.

The highest year for West Nile cases in Louisiana was 2002, when the state experienced 329 cases and 25 deaths.

To avoid West Nile virus, apply mosquito repellant, wear long sleeves and long pants and avoid wearing perfumes or colognes when outside for prolonged periods of time. Also, remove any standing water from around your home and make sure your windows and doors have secure screens.

TJ Starkey and her husband, Joe, have started a West Nile victims support group. It meets on the second Monday of each month at the North Oaks Diagnostic Center on US 51 in Hammond. For more information, you can contact the Starkeys at starkeyjtj@charter.net.

Mrs. Starkey contracted West Nile virus in 2002 and spent months in a hospital and is still undergoing therapy so she can walk again.