Walk-In Lab

By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

West Nile virus

The number of human West Nile virus (WNV) in the Las Vegas area has increased to 36, according to the latest information from the Southern Nevada Health District.

Image/skeeze via pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/sign-las-vegas-nevada-iconic-2237590/

Of the three dozen cases reported to date, 26 are classified as the more serious neuroinvasive type.

WNV is a potentially serious but preventable illness most often spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. It is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease across the United States.

Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. WNV can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses, and some other mammals. It is not transmitted from person-to-person.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 5 people who are infected
develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop serious, sometimes fatal, illness.


Hepatitis A

Health officials identified a person with hepatitis A that worked at a 7-Eleven convenience store located at 2910 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89109 while they were potentially infectious to others.

The Health District is informing customers who purchased non-prepackaged foods such as hot dogs or hot deli items between Friday, July 26 and Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at this 7-Eleven location that they may have been exposed to the virus.

Customers who purchased food at this location should contact their health care providers about getting a hepatitis A immunization or receiving post-exposure treatment. Packaged items, including bottled beverages and microwaved foods, are not implicated in this potential exposure. Customers who are fully vaccinated (two doses) against hepatitis A or who consumed only packaged or bottled items are not at increased risk.

This person is considered linked to the ongoing outbreak in Clark County. Currently, there are 86 reported cases, and one person has died.