A 61 YEAR OLD SAN JUAN COUNTY MAN HAS BECOME THE FIRST PERSON IN NEW MEXICO TO DIE THIS YEAR FROM WEST NILE VIRUS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. IT ALSO SAYS FOUR BERNALILLO COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE COME DOWN WITH THE VIRUS.
DOCTOR MARK DIMENNA IS WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HE SAYS IT’S PRETTY TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND GIVEN THE MOSQUITO LOAD THIS YEAR, HE SAYS IT’S NOT TOTALLY SURPRISING.
ONE PERSON IN THE COUNTY REMAINS HOSPITALIZED, THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN TREATED AND RELEASED. WEST NILE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH MOSQUITO BITES. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE SO FAR THIS YEAR.
