Two More Human Cases of West Nile Reported in Florida

Two More Human Cases of West Nile Reported in Florida
The Associated Press
Published: Oct 16, 2001
from http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGA4MGL7WSC.html

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Two more Floridians, one in the Keys and one in northeast Florida, have been sickened with the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

The potentially fatal virus has infected 11 people in Florida this year, after first showing up in July. None of the cases has been fatal, although a woman in Atlanta died from the disease in August, the only West Nile fatality in the country this year.

Ten people in the northeastern United States had died from the virus before this summer, when it showed up in the Southeast for the first time.

A 74-year-old man in Putnam County in northeastern Florida and a 45-year-old man in Monroe County are the latest to test positive for the encephalitis-causing virus. Neither man has been identified by officials.

The Putnam County man remained hospitalized Tuesday, but his condition wasn't known, said Department of Health spokeswoman April Crowley.

The Monroe County man has been released from the hospital, Crowley said.

Across Florida, 49 counties from the Panhandle to the Keys are under a West Nile alert. People have been warned to take precautions against mosquito bites, to wear repellant when outdoors and try to avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk.

AP-ES-10-16-01 1725EDT

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