A Howard Beach man last week was diagnosed with West Nile virus, according to a Queens Chronicle report.
The story, which was initially published on the newspaper’s website last Friday evening, indicated that blood analysis confirmed that William Ryan has contracted the disease.
According to the report, Ryan was infected days before the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene sprayed his community with a low concentration of a synthetic pesticide.
Late last month, according to Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach), DOHMH announced plans to conduct sprayings to combat mosquito breeding and West Nile virus in southern Queens communities that initially were not included on the spraying schedule. The sprayings were set for Sept. 1.
“It shouldn’t take a tragic case of West Nile for the Health Department to act,” Goldfeder told The Forum on Tuesday.
“We do not comment on individual cases due to privacy concerns. We conduct weekly surveillance for West Nile virus activity in every part of the city and spray pesticide in an area when the threat to humans is imminent,” the Health Department said in a statement. “Howard Beach recently met the criteria for spraying, and the Health Department sprayed in the area last Tuesday. Spraying adulticide in populated areas before we have any evidence of WNV activity is neither permitted, nor will it help protect public health.”
Goldfeder, who said that “Superstorm Sandy-devastated communities are more vulnerable to mosquito breeding, had been pushing for months to get southern Queens neighborhoods—Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Hamilton Beach—on the city spray schedule.
“For too long, families in southern Queens have been forced to endure growing mosquito populations each time summer rolls around,” Goldfeder said last Monday. “This plague threatens our quality of life and increases the risk of deadly West Nile virus, especially for families still struggling from Sandy.”
While Most people infected with the West Nile virus have no signs or symptoms, Ryan presented with many of the symptoms of West Nile infection: fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, according to the Chronicle report.
No vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection are available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms. In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
