Firstcoastnews.com
Family of West Nile Virus Victim Speaks
Latricia Spencer
By Ken Amaro
First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Letisha Spencer remembers her mother.
"She loved to cook," says Spencer.
And she loved to entertain her friends, family and neighbors.
Letisha Spencer says her mother would grill outdoors, ten feet from a ditch full of standing water.
Spencer believes her mom was grilling when she was bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile Virus.
That was on a Sunday.
Two days later she was rushed to Shands Jacksonville.
LaTricia Spencer died one week later.
The family believes she was treated for viral meningitis, instead of West Nile Virus.
"They messed up, they did," says Spencer.
By law, Shands cannot discuss the patient's condition or treatment.
But the death captured news headlines and caused the Duval County Health Department to issue a West Nile Virus alert last Friday.
Spencer was also a diabetic and had no insurance.
"What we need the most is help to bury our momma," says Spencer.
The Spencer family is telling anyone who would listen, if you're going outdoors use insect repellent.
The city's Mosquito Control treated the ditch behind the Spencer's apartment, and plans to treat it again.
Shands is reportedly conducting an autopsy and will forward the cause of death in a death certificate to the funeral home.
Anyone who would like to help the family can contact the Vystar Credit Union on Dunn Avenue.
First Coast News
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