Alabama's 1st West Nile case this year

Endangered zoo eagle dies

A mosquito has infected an Alabama man with the West Nile virus.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama (CNN) -- Alabama's first human case of the West Nile virus this year was confirmed by state officials Wednesday.

A 71-year-old Dale County man was infected with the mosquito-borne disease, the governor's office said.

Gov. Don Siegelman outlined a multifaceted action plan of attack Wednesday.

"Today I am directing state agencies to work closely with each other and local governments and to make every effort possible to prevent the spread of the West Nile virus," Siegelman said.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO So far, 71 cases of the deadly West Nile virus have been confirmed in Louisiana, making this the nation's worst outbreak of the disease. CNN's Rea Blakey reports (August 7) Play video CNN's Ed Lavandera reports on efforts to control West Nile virus after recent deaths in Louisiana. (August 4) Play video   EXTRA INFORMATION West Nile virus: Outbreaks in the U.S. from 2000 to 2002  Interactive: Understanding West Nile virus    RESOURCES • Special coverage from TIME.com  on the spread of the virus • Map: Where infected birds have been found in 2002    MORE STORIES A West Nile survivor's story  Infectious diseases: A problem the world over

Besides mounting a campaign to eradicate mosquitoes, Siegelman is emphasizing public education. He said literature on West Nile will be distributed to schoolchildren and their parents.

In 2001, two Alabamans were confirmed to have West Nile, one of whom died.

Earlier Wednesday, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee called a news conference to announce his state will spend $1 million in emergency funds on preventing the spread of the disease.

Arkansas had its first suspected human case of West Nile disease this week.

Five people have died of the virus this year in Louisiana and another 71 in the state are infected with it, making it the nation's worst-ever outbreak of the disease.

In 1999, 62 people in the New York City area came down with the disease, including seven who died.

Cases have also been reported this year in Mississippi, Texas, and Illinois.

Some birds susceptible, some not

Also Wednesday, officials at Alabama's Montgomery Zoo announced an endangered golden eagle died from West Nile last month, a source at Alabama's department of public health told CNN.

Crows, blue jays, and raptors (eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons) are susceptible to West Nile, Dr. Erin Brewer, a Louisiana medical official said.

"We don't totally understand why it kills some birds and doesn't kill other birds," she said.

Some states use chickens as an early warning system for West Nile, Brewer said. Though the disease does not kill the birds, West Nile is detected when blood tests on the chickens reveal the presence of an antibody response to the virus.

Many people who get West Nile -- which is transmitted to mosquitoes by migrating birds -- have no symptoms, and never seek medical help. Others suffer flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and headaches, while still others develop meningitis, encephalitis or a combination of the two diseases.

Symptoms of meningitis are fever, headache, stiff neck and light-sensitive eyes. Encephalitis can be marked by light-sensitive eyes, confusion, delirium, and trouble walking or talking.