Kevin Clark-Chalmette, LA

St. Bernard Parish official recovering from West Nile

CHALMETTE, La. The personnel director for St. Bernard Parish is recovering from West Nile virus. Kevin Clark is back home after ten days in the hospital.
He says his illness is a heads-up to everyone that anyone can get West Nile.

He says he was bitten while he mowed his lawn July 21, and became ill the next day. Another two days later, he was in the hospital with a high fever.

Clark said he was -NOT- wearing mosquito repellent or long sleeves and pants. He didn't even know he was bitten; a friend who visited him in the hospital pointed out two bites on his arm.

The parish mosquito control supervisor, Wil Schulte, said he suggested the blood test when Clark told him his symptoms. They were talking because Schulte wanted Clark to approve more drivers to spray for mosquitoes.

As Schulte puts it: "When you get the flu in Arabi in the summer, that ain't no flu."

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