In response to today's confirmation that the West Nile Virus has been found in mosquitoes in Clarksdale, Mayor Henry Espy called a meeting today of city officials and community members to discuss a plan of action.
The West Nile Virus Committee will be chaired by Aurelia Taylor, chief executive officer of Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services.
"The best way to start is by educating the public," Taylor said. "By working together we can keep this from becoming an epidemic."
Tim Mitchell, chief executive officer of Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, suggested the committee hold public forums to inform community members of the potential risks and possible prevention.
"The idea is not to alarm people," Mitchell said. "The hospital is ready."
Dr. Gafar Adesoji of Aaron Henry and Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center has experience working with patients infected with the West Nile Virus during the 1999 outbreak in New York City.
"It affects people 50 and over," he said. "Those individuals with weak immune systems are more susceptible to the disease. A death case has never been reported in children."
Adesoji suggested residents wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
"We have to do as we've done all our lives," Dr. Rodney Baine said. "Keep from getting bitten."
Baine also brought up the need to involve Coahmoa County in the effort to educate the public. "This is a Delta-wide problem," he said.
The Mississippi Department of Health announced that the state's first case of West Nile Virus in a human was found in a Hinds County man. Hospitalized with encephalitis, he is now recovering.
West Nile Virus, a form of encephalitis that affects horses and humans equally, is carried by birds, commonly bluejays. It is spread by mosquitoes.
Mild symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body aches and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.
A severe infection may also include high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and rarely death.
The West Nile Virus Committee will be chaired by Aurelia Taylor, chief executive officer of Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services.
"The best way to start is by educating the public," Taylor said. "By working together we can keep this from becoming an epidemic."
Tim Mitchell, chief executive officer of Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, suggested the committee hold public forums to inform community members of the potential risks and possible prevention.
"The idea is not to alarm people," Mitchell said. "The hospital is ready."
Dr. Gafar Adesoji of Aaron Henry and Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center has experience working with patients infected with the West Nile Virus during the 1999 outbreak in New York City.
"It affects people 50 and over," he said. "Those individuals with weak immune systems are more susceptible to the disease. A death case has never been reported in children."
Adesoji suggested residents wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
"We have to do as we've done all our lives," Dr. Rodney Baine said. "Keep from getting bitten."
Baine also brought up the need to involve Coahmoa County in the effort to educate the public. "This is a Delta-wide problem," he said.
The Mississippi Department of Health announced that the state's first case of West Nile Virus in a human was found in a Hinds County man. Hospitalized with encephalitis, he is now recovering.
West Nile Virus, a form of encephalitis that affects horses and humans equally, is carried by birds, commonly bluejays. It is spread by mosquitoes.
Mild symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, body aches and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.
A severe infection may also include high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and rarely death.