State Health Officials Have Confirmed 13 New West Nile Virus Cases in Louisiana

State health officials have confirmed 13 more cases of West Nile virus infection in Louisiana during the past week.  

More than half of those cases were confirmed here in Caddo Parish.  These latest cases bring the total number of West Nile case confirmed in Louisiana so far this year to 42.

Of the 13 latest confirmed cases, 5 of them were the most serious Neuroinvasive Disease and 3 of those were here in Caddo.  The other 2 were in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes.  There were also 6 new cases of West Nile fever and 4 of those were in Caddo. The other 2 were in Calcasieu and East Baton Rouge Parishes.  And, there were 2 more asymptomatic cases reported -- 1 each in Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parishes.

State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard continues to stress that West Nile is spread by mosquitoes and we all need to do everything we can to protect ourselves from "Louisiana's State Bird!"  That includes dumping any standing water we might have around our property that can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and using a mosquito repellant that contains up to 30-percent DEET when we're going to be outdoors.