West Nile kills Fresnan, 90

Virus confirmed as the cause of July 23 death.
By Vanessa Colón / The Fresno Bee
08/22/07 04:44:29

The July death of a 90-year-old Fresno man is the first confirmed fatality from West Nile virus this year in Fresno County, health officials said Tuesday.
Ernest Nave died July 23 in Saint Agnes Medical Center after he was infected by the virus weeks earlier, said his son, Michael Nave of Sacramento.

Nave is one of eight people who have died this year in California from the virus, which affects the nervous system and is spread by mosquitoes, said Dr. Edward Moreno, director and health officer of the Fresno County Department of Community Health.

There have been three deaths in Kern County and one each in Kings, San Joaquin, Colusa and Los Angeles counties.

Michael Nave said he hopes his father's death will help others learn to take precautions.

Nave said his father and mother, 78-year-old Theresa Nave, routinely sat outside in the evening.

"Although he wore insect repellent ... he probably didn't apply it completely," Nave said in a telephone interview.

Ernest Nave did not have major health problems, his son said, although he had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and had undergone heart bypass surgery about 10 years ago.

Michael Nave said his father first felt sick in early July and took an aspirin. A couple of days later, he began to suffer strong tremors throughout his body. He was taken to Saint Agnes and tested for encephalitis and meningitis, his son said.

The hospital released him when he improved, his son said. While waiting for results of tests, Nave's condition worsened, Michael Nave said.

Two days later, Ernest Nave was taken by ambulance to Saint Agnes and was placed in the intensive-care unit because he couldn't get out of bed and couldn't talk, Michael Nave said.

"After seeing my dad in the hospital, I realized how difficult the impact of that virus is on individuals," Michael Nave said.

Kelley Sanchez, a spokeswoman for Saint Agnes Medical Center, verified that the hospital had treated a West Nile patient but couldn't confirm the chronology of the case.

Laboratory test results Monday confirmed that Ernest Nave died as a result of the virus, health officials said.

Of the 137 human cases of West Nile virus in the state so far this year, nine have occurred in Fresno County as of Tuesday. In 2006, there were 11 human cases of West Nile infection in Fresno County, with one death.

Most who contract the virus do not show signs of the disease, but some can become seriously ill with flulike symptoms. About 20% who contract the disease develop symptoms. Fewer than 1% die of it.

To prevent the spread of the disease, residents are asked to eliminate standing water around their homes and report unmaintained or "green" swimming pools to local mosquito control districts.

They also are urged to report dead or ill birds to the California Department of Health Services. If the birds are not picked up within 24 hours, residents are asked to place them in double bags and dispose of them in a regular waste container.

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