Terry Reykdal, MANITOBA

Family of West Nile patient speaks out
Last Updated Aug 10 2005 11:25 AM CDT
CBC News
A 59-year-old man remains in hospital after contracting the most severe form of the West Nile Virus, while his family waits for his recovery.

Leslie Reykdal found her husband's uncle Terry Reykdal lying on the floor of his Winnipeg Beach home.

"I walked in to find he was very dozy, very hot, fevered, he could barely walk," she says. "I had to walk him to the vehicle. I took him to the Gimli hospital. Apparently at this point, he's unable to walk. We've heard he'll have to have some physiotherapy to have him walking again."

Doctors later diagnosed a neurological form of West Nile fever, a severe form of the disease that is carried by mosquitoes. Reykdal says her relative did not like to use bug spray, but her family is using it now.

"We definitely will spray more," she says. "Though the DEET, you kind of wonder if it's any good for us, but I'd pick DEET over West Nile any day."

Reykdal says she is also getting her six-year-old son tested, since he is also showing symptoms of West Nile virus.

The province says people can also reduce the risk by reducing time spent outdoors, and wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing.

West Nile backgrounder:

* CBC INDEPTH: West Nile Virus

West Nile surveillance in Manitoba:

* MANITOBA HEALTH: West Nile surveillance statistics External site