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The City of El Paso Department of Public Health (DPH) announced today that two West Nile virus-related deaths have been confirmed in the area.
“It has been four years since our City has seen a West Nile-related death and this news is hard to report,” said Robert Resendes, Public Health Director. “We extend our condolences to these individuals’ loved-ones and remind the community to prevent mosquito breeding and mosquito bites as a way to help prevent this disease.”
The patients are a woman in her early 50’s and a man in his early 80’s. Both had underlying conditions. The woman’s illness had already been reported, however; the man is considered a newly-reported case.
The 7th case is a man in his early 30’s who does not have underlying conditions.
The following is a table of the cases reported to the DPH so far this season:
| 1. | Female | Late 70’s | Underlying Medical Conditions | |
| 2. | Female | Late 70’s | Underlying Medical Conditions | |
| Deceased | 3. | Female | Early 50’s | Underlying Medical Conditions |
| 4. | Female | Early 30’s | No Underlying Medical Conditions | |
| 5. | Male | Late 30’s | No Underlying Medical Conditions | |
| NEW/Deceased | 6. | Male | Early 80’s | Underlying Medical Conditions |
| NEW | 7. | Male | Early 30’s | No Underlying Medical Conditions |
The best way to avoid exposure to mosquito-borne diseases is to practice the “four Ds”:
- DEET – Use insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors.
- DRESS – Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.
- DUSK and DAWN – Although mosquitoes associated with other diseases such as Zika can be active throughout the day; residents should take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (from dusk to dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
- DRAIN – Drain standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, and birdbaths.
You can also mosquito-proof your home by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. To report standing water or mosquito breeding call 3-1-1.
