BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's 31 latest West Nile infections included one death, bringing Louisiana's total this year to 176 reported infections and 10 deaths from the virus.
State health officials say the latest cases are unrelated to Hurricane Isaac because it takes weeks for an infection to be reported. There also was a delay in reporting because the storm closed health care facilities and pushed public health laboratory staff into hurricane response activities.
Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein notes that floods disrupt mosquito breeding by washing out stagnant water - but then remaining water becomes stagnant and a breeding spot. He says that at the same time, people will be heading outside for storm cleanup, tailgating, football games and cookouts, putting them at risk for mosquito bites.