Diamond Jenkins
Blue & White Flash/Managing Editor
The Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) reports that as of Sept. 24, 2012, there have been 186 reported cases of West Nile Virus in Mississippi, resulting in four deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), West Nile Virus, which was first found in the United States in 1999, is a chain of serious and deadly viral diseases that can be carried by some mosquitoes. More than 30,000 people in the United States have been reported with the West Nile Virus disease since 1999, and of those almost 13,000 have been seriously ill and over 1,200 have died.
Many more cases of illness are not reported to CDC, but it’s likely that more than 300,000 people from almost every state have been sickened in the 12 years since West Nile Virus came to the U.S.
Ollie Harper, director of the JSU Health Center stated that so far they have not seen any patients with signs or symptoms of the virus.
As part of the University Safety Committee, Harper said attention is being given to those areas such as the outdoor athletic practice fields to ensure that any standing water is eliminated to decrease the threat of mosquitoes.
“Along with the university safety officer, we will continue to walk through campus to check outside and inside areas where students may gather, and recommend steps to eliminate any threats,” said Harper.
Patrick Terrell, director of Safety and Environmental Management at JSU, said that the university handles spraying for mosquitoes as needed.
At Jackson State, many students are aware of the severity of the West Nile Virus and how it is spread.
Morgan Taylor, a junior biology pre-medicine major from Utica, Miss., said, “As a biology major, I often gain insight on how your health is affected, because of natural changes in the environment. I’m pretty sure my peers, including myself think of taking safety precautions from west Nile,” said Taylor.
Some Students are not as aware.
Reginald Phinisee Jr, a junior English major from Gary, Ind, said: “I’m afraid to catch the West Nile Virus because I know it can be fatal. To protect myself from contracting the West Nile Virus, I try to stay in the house before all the mosquitoes come out at night.”
Alyssa Middleton, a senior from Indianapolis, Ind., said: “I would be terrified to catch the West Nile Virus because it’s a virus, and who wants to walk around with a virus? I don’t usually go outside late but when I am outside late I have on pants and long sleeves because I can’t stand the smell of mosquito repellent.”
The MSDH recommends the following West Nile Virus prevention:
• Avoid mosquitoes whenever possible. Stay indoors or take personal protective measures, especially between dusk and dawn, which are peak mosquito biting times.
• Use mosquito repellent with DEET. Products with up to 30 percent DEET will provide adequate protection under most conditions.
• Wear long-sleeved, long-legged clothing with socks and shoes when practical.
For more information on the West Nile Virus and preventative measures go to http://msdh.ms.gov/
