Nicole Thomas, OH

Monday, August 15, 2005

Recovery slow for possible West Nile virus victim
Greenhills woman's polio-like symptom is unusual for such cases

By Eileen Kelley
Enquirer staff writer

CLIFTON - Nicole Thomas sits in a hospital bed unable to move her legs.

Progress and recovery from what is possibly the area's first case of the West Nile virus this season has been slow.

"It's a long process, but God is going to heal her," said Thomas' mother, Wanda Dean of Forest Park.

Dean said she and Thomas, 22, were told Friday that Thomas is suffering from the West Nile virus.

A spokeswoman for Good Samaritan Hospital, where Thomas has been a patient since Aug. 4, said Sunday the hospital is still waiting for test results.

Dr. Steve Englender, director of epidemiology and emergency public health preparedness for the Cincinnati Department of Health, said the polio-like symptom that Thomas is experiencing is rare with West Nile cases. The doctor said late Friday his department had not been informed of the case and didn't expect to be informed - if in fact there was a confirmation - until the weekend was over. "Certainly West Nile is possible because it has become pandemic across the country," said Englender.

West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness, which in some cases can be deadly. If Thomas' case is West Nile, it will be just the second confirmed human case of the disease in Ohio this year.

The Ohio Department of Health reported last month that a 27-year-old person in Drake County contracted the virus.

There have not been any reported cases in Kentucky this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Nile was first reported six years ago in New York.

"It's been a very interesting disease to watch it spread west," said Englender.

About one in 150 people infected with the virus will need to be hospitalized.

The virus is most commonly spread through the bite of mosquitoes.

Typically, symptoms appear within three days to two weeks from the mosquito bite. Local health officials reported in early July that mosquitoes carrying the virus had been detected in Madeira along Dawson road.

The first human case in Ohio was in 2002, a year when 142 human cases were confirmed and 31 people died. Statewide, the virus has waned since that first case.

There were 12 confirmed cases last year and two deaths.

So far this year, California has the highest reported number of cases with 84 as of Aug. 9, according to the Centers for Disease Control. South Dakota is second with 28 human cases. A total of 22 states have reported human cases.

Friends and family of Thomas say that the Greenhills woman had complained about feeling weak prior to her hospitalization.

"She just kept getting weaker and weaker," said Jammie Jackson, 21, a close friend.

Thomas' mother said her daughter went to Mercy Hospital Fairfield. on Aug. 3 to find out what was wrong. She was told she had some sort of virus and was sent home.

The following morning, Thomas woke up and couldn't move her legs and screamed for help. A meter man heard her cries and called for emergency help.

"Temporarily paralyzed; I'm not going to say she is paralyzed because I'm just not going to believe it," said Dean.

Thomas' sister, Stephanie Dean, said doctors are hopeful they can transfer Thomas to Drake Center in about two weeks to begin rehabilitation.