Teen has West Nile - Ducharme family wants Brandon fogged for mosquitoes
By: Ian Hitchen
Shane Ducharme recuperates from a confirmed case of West Nile virus as his mother Connie looks on Wednesday afternoon in their Brandon home. The teen first visited the family doctor on Aug. 15 after developing a rash.
(Colin Corneau/Brandon Sun)
Brandon has recorded its first human case of West Nile virus this year and the 14-year-old’s parents want the city fogged for mosquitoes to avoid future cases of the illness.
Connie Ducharme said their family doctor called her Tuesday to let her know her bed-ridden son is suffering from the mosquito-bourne virus.
“It’s here, how many other people can it happen to?” Ducharme said, adding she wants other Brandon parents warned.
“I think (he was infected) here because he’s spent the majority of his time outdoors in Brandon.”
Her son Shane first visited the family doctor on Aug. 15 after he developed a rash on his chest, back and legs.
At first, the doctor thought it was some form of virus that had to run its course, but Shane slept most of the next two days and developed nausea, a headache and sore legs.
He was sent to the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Aug. 18 where Ducharme said a doctor took a blood sample to test for West Nile, just in case.
Shane spent three days in hospital. Now home, his headaches are gone but Shane, who usually likes bike riding and hanging around with friends, still doesn’t feel well.
“I get dizzy when I stand up, my stomach is so sore right now,” he said.
Usually, people infected by West Nile virus have no symptoms and do not become ill. When they do they can have a fever, headaches, fatigue and body aches. Milder symptoms of West Nile fever usually improve without medical care.
Less common is West Nile neurological syndrome which can inflame the brain. In some cases the virus can cause serious illness or death.
Manitoba Health reports 21 Manitobans have tested positive for the virus this year, including five new cases reported yesterday. Shane is the first in the Brandon Regional Health Authority to test positive for the virus and there have been five positive tests reported in the Assiniboine RHA, which surrounds Brandon.
Elise Weiss, medical officer of health for both health authorities, said there’s a chance more West Nile cases will be found.
“There’s still some mosquito activity,” Weiss said. “It’s still certainly a possibility.”
That’s why the Ducharmes want the city fogged.
The province’s chief medical officer of health has to order mosquito fogging to battle West Nile and city’s public works manager Rick Bailey said city crews already have the truck-mounted equipment and malathion needed should the order be made. There are currently no such plans, said Weiss.
“If the province calls us and gives the order for us to spray then we’re ready to go,” Bailey said, adding the city has been larvaciding since the start of May and continues even though mosquito season is coming to a close.
Bailey said the province deals with culex tarsalis, the pest that carries the virus, while the city controls nuisance mosquitoes that don’t generally carry West Nile. The city larvacides rather than sprays because it’s more efficient, he said.
Residents can protect themselves by reducing the time they spend outdoors between dusk and dawn and wear light-coloured, loose-fitting, long-sleeved tops and long pants outdoors.
They should also wear insect repellent containing DEET, and check door and window screens fit tightly and are free of holes.
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