KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, LouisianaDeaths linked to Mosquito Viruses
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January 28, 2004
Reported by KPLC Staff
State health officials say four different mosquito-borne viruses caused Encephalitis or Meningitis in Louisiana residents last year, and three kinds were fatal.
The report was the first to mention cases of Lacrosse virus, which made residents of three parishes ill in October. A 67-year-old Tangipahoa parish woman became ill October 8 and died November 10.
The other two patients were men: a 45-year-old in Calcasieu parish man and a 49-year-old in Saint Mary parish. The Lacrosse Encephalitis death brought the total to nine from all mosquito-borne forms of the disease, including seven from West Nile and one from Saint Louis encephalitis.
The new report also added four to the number of west Nile "meningoencephalitis" figures released in mid-December, for a total of 101, plus 20 cases -- all reported earlier -- of less serious west Nile fever. There was no change from earlier saint Louis and eastern equine encephalitis figures.
