CALGARY – The province says there are four new cases of West Nile Virus, bringing the year’s total number of cases to ten.
All of the cases are among southern Alberta residents, the most serious involving a man in his 30’s who has developed West Nile Neurological Syndrome.
West Nile Neurological syndrome is a potentially fatal illness that affects the brain. Symptoms include tremors, drowsiness, confusion, high fever and paralysis.
Alberta Health Services says the remaining cases involve the less serious non-neurological syndrome.
Symptoms of West Nile non-neurological syndrome include fever, chills, nausea, fatigue, skin rash and swollen glands.
Last week, Toronto Public Health reported the country’s first death from West Nile Virus in 2013.
An 80-year-old man passed away after contracting the virus earlier this summer.
In 2012, Alberta reported a total of 10 cases of West Nile, five people developed the neurological syndrome and one person – 66-year-old Ron Sept of Medicine Hat – died of the disease.
2013 West Nile Virus Infections in Alberta:
| Region | Acquired | Gender | Age range | Type of infection | Date acquired |
| Southern Alberta | Within Alberta | Male | 40–49 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | Late-August |
| Southern Alberta | TBD | Male | 30–39 | West Nile Neurological Syndrome | TBD |
| Southern Alberta | TBD | Male | 0–9 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | TBD |
| Southern Alberta | TBD | Female | 70–79 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | TBD |
| Southern Alberta | TBD | Female | 50–59 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | TBD |
| Southern Alberta | TBD | Female | 60–69 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | TBD |
| Southern Alberta | Within Alberta | Female | 40–49 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | Mid-August |
| Southern Alberta | Within Alberta | Male | 60–69 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | Late-August |
| Southern Alberta | Within Alberta | Male | 50–59 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | Mid-August |
| Southern Alberta | Within Alberta | Female | 40–49 | West Nile Non-neurological Syndrome | Mid-August |
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