| August
9, 2002
Little Rock —
The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported
today that the human blood sample received from Arkansas
tested negative for West Nile virus. The Arkansas Department
of Health (ADH) reported earlier this week that the
blood sample from a patient in Union County had tested
positive in an initial screening. The sample was then
forwarded to the CDC for a complete analysis.
“This
is great news for the patient, Union County and Arkansas,”
Fay Boozman, ADH director, said. “However, the department
remains diligent and our surveillance system continues.”
Nine
additional human blood samples are being screened in
the ADH laboratory. Those results are expected as early
as Saturday, August 10.
The
department also learned today that an additional 27
birds have tested positive for West Nile virus. Faulkner
and Ashley counties each had one infected bird, bring
the total counties affected to 23. The affected counties
and the number of infected birds per county are Arkansas
(2), Ashley (1), Chicot (7), Craighead (3), Crawford
(3), Crittenden (17), Cross (5), Faulkner (1), Franklin
(1), Independence (1), Jefferson (7), Lee (6), Lonoke
(2), Mississippi (7), Phillips (5), Poinsett (1), Pulaski
(11), Sebastian (5), St. Francis (3), Union (3), Van
Buren (1), Washington (3) and Woodruff (2).
The
Health Department is continuing to monitor the state for
mosquito-borne diseases. The
ADH has established a West Nile virus hotline to respond
to public inquiries.
If you have a question, please call 501.280.4817
from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For after hours and weekends, please call
501.661-2136 or 1.800.554.5738.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention West Nile
virus hotline is 1.888.246-2675; 1.888.246.2857
(Spanish).
|
