South Dakota reports first human case of West Nile

PIERRE, South Dakota (CNN) -- A 64-year-old man from Carthage has tested positive for the West Nile virus, the first human to become infected in that state this year, the South Dakota Department of Health reported Wednesday.

The man is hospitalized in Sioux Falls in serious condition, state health officials said.

The health department termed the case "probable" until it could be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If it is, South Dakota would be the 14th state, plus the District of Columbia, where humans have been infected with the virus this year.

Also Wednesday, the CDC confirmed the death Monday of a Kentucky man from the virus. The 84-year-old man, who had multiple health problems, had been hospitalized since early August.

His death brought to 13 the number of West Nile-caused deaths across the United States this year that have been confirmed by the Atlanta-based CDC.

West Nile deaths confirmed by the CDC occurred in Illinois (one); Kentucky (one); Louisiana (eight); Mississippi (two); and Texas (one). Another death reported by officials near St. Louis remains to be confirmed.

MORE STORIES • Time.com: West Nile: On the move  • Time.com: Person (ahem) of the Week  • A West Nile survivor's story  • Infectious diseases: A problem the world over    EXTRA INFORMATION • Interactive: Understanding West Nile virus  • Map: West Nile activity in the U.S. from 2000 through 2002    CDC West Nile hot lines English 888-246-2675 Spanish 888-246-2875 Hearing-impaired 866-874-2646

The largest number of people infected with West Nile have so far been in Louisiana, where 146 people have the virus, according to CDC figures. That is nearly three times as many as the state with the next-highest number, Mississippi, which has 55 cases.

Texas has 25 cases and Illinois has 16, while the other states' figures are in single digits.

Authorities in Colorado and Wyoming reported Saturday what could be the first official cases of the West Nile virus in those states.

In Wyoming, a horse from eastern Goshen County near the Nebraska border died of encephalitis, said Terry Creekmore, West Nile virus project coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Health.

In Denver, the virus was detected in the blood of two horses and a dead crow from Weld County and one horse from Pueblo County, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The CDC has not officially confirmed the cases.

"This is not a cause to panic," said Wyoming Health Officer Dr. Brent Sherard."We've been preparing for the arrival since last summer, and we're working at the state and local level to educate the public and providers to protect the health of our citizens."

Encephalitis and meningitis are rare but potentially fatal symptoms of the infection.

John Pape, an epidemiologist with the Colorado Health Department, called the detection the first among animals in his state. Two horses died and a third is recovering.

No human cases have been reported in either state.

People in areas where the virus is present are urged to wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants and to use insect repellent containing the chemical DEET.

A CDC official said last week that before cool weather stops this year's epidemic about 1,000 people could become sick with the disease and about 100 are likely to die.

West Nile virus was first reported in New York in 1999. Since then, the federal health agency has confirmed finding the virus in animals in 39 states and the District of Columbia.