Shelby County victim is state’s first West Nile virus death

Two new human cases were reported in the county, including the death, according to officials with the Memphis and Shelby County and state health departments.

Officials would not release personal information about the victim, but noted a national pattern of most deaths occurring in people older than 70.

“Our trend matches the national pattern,” county health department spokeswoman Brenda Ward said.

No deaths from the virus were reported in Shelby County last year, but there was one in 2003 and eight in 2002.

The county also had the first confirmed human cases in the state this year, two females and a male, reported Sept. 2.

Meanwhile Hamilton County officials reported Tuesday that a 78-year-old woman tested positive for the virus, marking the state’s first human case this year outside the Memphis area. The woman is in the hospital and recovering.

“It’s not surprising,” said Dr. Valerie Boaz of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. “We know West Nile Virus has been in our area.”

August and September are the peak months for virus, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control. Nationwide, 29 deaths have been reported this year.

Shelby County has generally shown higher levels of infection among animals tested by the state health department. Mosquitoes have tested positive in Davidson County, and birds have tested positive in Hamilton, Knox and Davidson counties.

The virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. While usually not serious in humans, it can lead to encephalitis, a potentially deadly inflammation of the brain.

Last year, there were 2,535 cases of the virus and 98 deaths reported nationwide. Tennessee had 14 human cases with no deaths.