Louisiana

Louisiana Department of Health confirms four cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease

Published

5 months ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Louisiana Department of Health confirms four cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease

Staff Reports
| Shreveport Times

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health has confirmed four human cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease in the Northeast Louisiana community of Winnsboro.

These cases were reported between July 5-24.

Louisiana has reported a total of eight West Nile neuroinvasive disease cases in the state in 2024.

According to a press release, LDH says it is not uncommon to see increased West Nile disease activity in Louisiana during the summer months, a cluster of cases in a small locality is unusual.

LDH recommends taking protective measures against mosquito bites, especially for residents of Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union and West Carroll parishes.

What is West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is spread by mosquitoes and can cause illness in people and animals. While 80% of human cases are asymptomatic, many people can develop West Nile fever. Symptoms are similar to the flu and may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rashes.

Many patients have low-grade or no fever.

A small percentage of people can develop a severe form of infection called West Nile neuroinvasive disease, or West Nile encephalitis.

Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions and those who are over 60 years of age are at greater risk. Symptoms may last several weeks and can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, numbness, coma and paralysis. In rare cases, West Nile neuroinvasive disease may result in death.

In 2023, Louisiana experienced 65 West Nile cases, including 46 neuroinvasive disease cases and four deaths. Last year’s cases occurred throughout the state, with multiple regions reporting their highest case counts in years.

Tips to protect yourself against mosquitoes

Wear EPA-registered mosquito repellent outside and always follow product label instructions.
Apply repellent on exposed skin and clothing, but do not apply under your clothes or on broken skin.
If you will be outside for an extended period, consider a travel-size container of repellent that can easily be carried with you.
If you wear sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
To protect yourself from being exposed to mosquitoes indoors, ensure windows and doors are tight-fitting and that all screens are free of holes.

Protecting your home from mosquitoes

Reduce the mosquito population by eliminating standing water around your home, where mosquitoes breed.
Turn over wheelbarrows, plastic wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children’s toys or anything that could collect water.
Try to quickly discard or store any unnecessary containers around your property to reduce the chances of water accumulating.
Check and clean roof gutters routinely. Clogged gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.
Water gardens and ornamental pools can become major mosquito producers if allowed to stagnate. Take steps to prevent stagnation, such as adding fish or aeration.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. A swimming pool left untended for as little as a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.

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Louisiana

Heart of Louisiana: Savoy Music

Published

45 minutes ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – You can feel the strong Cajun tradition the moment you step inside the Savoy Music Center near the southwest Louisiana city of Eunice.

The blend of strong black coffee, the savory aroma of boudin sausage, lively conversations, and the music create an atmosphere that is unmistakably Cajun.

For more, visit the Heart of Louisiana archive here.

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Louisiana

Army Black Knights, Louisiana Tech Offensive Stars To Watch in Independence Bowl

Published

12 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Army Black Knights, Louisiana Tech Offensive Stars To Watch in Independence Bowl

The Independence Bowl will be a game of offensive contrasts as the Army West Point Black Knights face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday at Independence Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 9:15 p.m. eastern on ESPN.

Army (11-2) enters the game using its run-based attack based on option, deception and power football. If the Black Knights don’t have 34 or 35 minutes of time of possession by game’s end, then they haven’t done their job. Army can create big plays, but the Black Knights would rather grind its opponents down to submission.

Louisiana Tech (5-7) runs a pass-based, Air Raid offense that coach Sonny Cumbie learned from one of his coaches and mentors, the legendary Mike Leach. The former Texas Tech quarterback doesn’t have the talent he needs to make it as effective as the Red Raiders’ glory days offensively. But, he’s found a quarterback that could help get him there in the coming years — if the Bulldogs can hang onto him.

This is the transfer portal era after all.

Here are three offensive players to watch for each team going into Saturday’s contest.

QB Bryson Daily

Daily was the American Athletic Conference offensive player of the year and was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. He is the focal point of this offense. He’s rushed for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns (tied for most in FBS) and has thrown for another 942 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. If LA Tech wants to win, it has to slow him down. Look at the Navy tape for a template.

RB Noah Short

With Kanye Udoh’s transfer to Arizona State, the bulk of the complementary backfield work may fall to short, who was the Black Knights’ third-leading rusher this season. He rushed for 542 yards and two touchdowns but gained more yards per carry (7.7) than Udoh (6.2).

This is Daily’s swan song so he’ll get plenty of work. But Short needs to be a solid complement. He’s also one of Army’s top passing targets with 17 catches for 318 yards and three touchdowns.

WR Casey Reynolds

Reynolds leads the Black Knights with 19 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns. When Daily looks for a big play down the field, count on Reynolds to be the receiver he’s looking for. It’s been that way all season.

QB Evan Bullock

He finally emerged with the starting job in late September and the freshman ended up with 1,938 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions as he completed 67% of his passes. That’s a solid start in an offense that requires quick passing and high accuracy. Bullock has both, but he’s also been sacked 31 times.

RB Omiri Wiggins

The running game can be afterthought in an Air Raid offense. But Wiggins is coming off a huge game in LA Tech’s finale, as he rushed for 129 yards and three touchdowns and three interceptions against Kennesaw State. That was more than a quarter of his output this season (487 yards, four touchdowns).

WR Tru Edwards

The senior is from Shreveport, La., so this is like coming home. And he’s had a huge year for the Bulldogs. Edwards is their leading receiver by a significant margin, with 77 receptions for 897 yards and six touchdowns. He’s caught 25 passes in his last three games but hasn’t found the end zone.

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Louisiana

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers

Published

21 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Letters: State should invest in training mental health providers

Most of Louisiana is classified as a mental health professional shortage area, leaving countless families — especially children —without access to critical mental health services. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, over half of children in Louisiana who experience mental health challenges do not receive the care they need. This is a staggering number given that this study estimates that 30.3% of children ages 3-17 have at least one emotional, developmental or behavioral health disorder. This unmet need has far-reaching consequences, affecting school performance, family stability and community safety.

Addressing this gap starts with investing in higher education programs that train the mental health professionals our state desperately needs. Universities such as the University of Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of New Orleans, University of Holy Cross, Tulane University, Nicholls State University, LSU and others play a vital role in preparing skilled counselors, psychologists and social workers.

However, the current capacity of mental health training programs is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. We are facing another potential budget shortfall in Louisiana that could impact higher education. Without adequate funding and resources, these programs may struggle to equip students with the expertise and experience required to enter the workforce.

Investing in these programs is not just about addressing today’s challenges — it is about safeguarding the future of Louisiana. By increasing the number of trained mental health professionals, we can improve outcomes for children and families, reduce the strain on emergency services and foster healthier, more resilient communities.

It is time to prioritize the mental health of our state by supporting higher education programs that make a difference. Together, we can build a brighter, healthier future.

MATTHEW THORNTON

chief executive officer, Center for Children and Families, Inc.

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