SECOND WOOD RESIDENT HAS DIED FROM WEST NILE - Virus Moving Westward

(03/22/2003)

The federal Centers for Disease Control has confirmed a 54-year-old woman who died in Wood County last October had West Nile Virus. The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department wasn't notified that the woman had West Nile until this month. West Virginia's other West Nile-related death was in Wood County. William Kerr, 78, of Parkersburg had the virus when he died last September. Steve Bayer, the Environmental Health and Threat Preparedness Director for the health department, says as far as he knows, the virus hasn't been labeled as the cause of the woman's death. Bayer reported a positive bird harboring the virus was found in Calhoun, but that could not be confirmed. The virus has been detected in most West Virginia counties and is rapidly spreading west. It is spread by mosquito bite. One other case of West Nile was reported in West Virginia last year, a 55-year-old Putnam County man. He became sick last August, but recovered.

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