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SUSPECTED WEST NILE DEATH OCCURS IN MISSOURI


Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Mo. 65109

For immediate release: August 19, 2002

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Public Information Officer
573/751-6062

SUSPECTED WEST NILE DEATH OCCURS IN MISSOURI

The death of a 75-year-old St. Louis area woman August 7 may have been due to West Nile virus, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported today. The department was notified of the death today after an independent laboratory had a preliminary positive finding for West Nile virus from laboratory tests. This is the first suspected death from West Nile virus in the state.

State health officials stressed that individuals need to continue protecting themselves from mosquito bites.

"Missourians' best protection is wearing insect repellant that contains DEET when they go outdoors," said Dr. Howard Pue, Chief of the department's Section of Communicable Disease Prevention and Veterinary Public Health. "People also need to make sure they get rid of standing water in their yards in order to eliminate breeding grounds for mosquitoes," he added.