Acampo man dies of complications from West Nile virus

An 86-year-old Acampo man died Wednesday from complications of the West Nile virus, marking the state's fourth fatality this year and Northern California's first.

James Rodgers

San Joaquin County officials wouldn't disclose Thursday who the victim is, but two neighbors say it was James A. "Jim" Rodgers, who lived for about 30 years at Arbor Mobile Home Park off Highway 99 and Woodbridge Road.

Meanwhile, some 60 residents showed up for a quickly called meeting for 6:30 p.m. in the mobile home park clubhouse, where John Stroh, manager of the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District, talked in general terms about the West Nile virus, but not about any deaths related to the virus.

The San Joaquin County West Nile Virus Task Force spread pesticide by ground in the area near Arbor Mobile Home Park on Thursday night and planned to continue ground spraying tonight and Saturday.

County officials also reported Thursday that two more horses have also tested positive for the virus.

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And two other men in the county have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of reported human cases to three, according to a press release issued late Thursday.

"These new human cases, along with the reports of infected birds countywide, bring home to all of us that the virus can now be found in all areas of our county and that we must take the necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites," Dr. Karen Furst, the county's public health officer, said in a press release issued by the task force. "The single best defense against mosquito bites is to use a mosquito repellent with DEET."

Death came suddenly

Rodgers, a propeller specialist for more than 40 years in the U.S. Air Force, died Wednesday after being hospitalized since Saturday, said a neighbor, Tammy Christian.

Rodgers' next-door neighbor, Margie Gipson, said Rodgers' daughter, Susie Mikan, came by Wednesday afternoon to inform residents that Rodgers had died, and that the cause was complications of the West Nile virus.

"It was confirmed (to be West Nile)," Christian said. "It's going on his death certificate."

Mikan was unavailable for comment Thursday night.

A third Arbor resident, Patricia Holden, said the victim's family member had said a man in the mobile home park died of West Nile, but she wouldn't confirm if it was Rodgers.

The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District announced in a news release e-mailed to media shortly before 6 p.m. that "an elderly male" had died from complications of the West Nile virus. But the notice didn't give the victim's name or what part of San Joaquin County he resided.

After the meeting, Stroh said he couldn't disclose any information about the death and deferred questions to Furst.

Asked why Thursday's meeting for residents was held, Stroh said, "Because the virus was detected in this area, and it's a close-knit community."

Christian said she received only 90 minutes notice about the 6:30 p.m. meeting. And the wording on the flier didn't convey a sense of urgency.

"Please come and join us tonight for an informational meeting as West Nile activity has recently been detected in the area," the flier said.

Christian said she was angry and stormed out of the meeting as Stroh began making generally benign comments about the virus.

Christian said she told Stroh, "You need to inform them that somebody died."

Later, she said, "They only had the meeting because (Rodgers) passed away."

Healthy until Saturday

Rodgers' death appeared to come quite suddenly. He appeared completely healthy during his weekly Friday night bowling league last week, neighbors said, and he appeared healthy when he did some light yard work Saturday morning.

"He bowled on Friday night, and we went to Red Lobster after bowling," Christian said. "He was the best bowler on our team."

For the record, he carried a 172 average, said Christian's husband, Chad Christian.

But Saturday afternoon, Tammy Christian said Rodgers, who lived alone since his wife, Jane Rodgers, died in 2000, appeared to be "hallucinating." He was taken to Stockton's Dameron Hospital that night.

The task force also reported Thursday that an infected horse in Escalon has died.

The virus, first detected this year in June in infected scrub jays in Acampo, is transmitted to humans and animals such as horses through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected with the virus when they bite infected birds that carry the disease from site to site.

Last year, 19 horses in San Joaquin County tested positive and five died. During the entire summer season, there were three confirmed human cases, but no fatalities, according to the task force.

More counties infected

The California Department of Health reported on its Web site that as of Tuesday, 47 counties in the state have had West Nile virus activity this year. Additional information should be available today.

"Our past experience suggests that the risk of human cases of West Nile virus increases dramatically during August and September," state Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Backer said a press release. "For most people, the risk of serious illness from West Nile virus is low, but this man's death reminds us that Californians must be especially diligent about personal mosquito protection."

Mosquito control districts throughout the state have stepped up prevention measures by applying pesticide by air and ground to kill mosquitos potentially carrying the virus.

The chemical was scheduled to be sprayed from two airplanes in most of Elk Grove and South Sacramento for three days through Saturday night. Galt will not be affected.

On Thursday night, the San Joaquin district planned to treat Woodbridge Road/Highway 99 east to Kennefick Road/Central Traction railroad tracks, north to Acampo, west to the Union Pacific railroad tracks and south to the Mokelumne River.

Protect yourself

Symptoms of the virus vary from one patient to another. However, the risk of severe disease is highest in people over 50 years old and those with other chronic health problems.

About one in five patients infected with the virus will develop symptoms of headache, fever and fatigue. This form of the disease can last between 7-21 or more days.

About one in 150 infected people will develop severe illness with symptoms of neurological disease that can include any of the following: neck stiffness, confusion, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, numbness, and/or paralysis. Symptoms may last several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent.

The task force reminds all residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate standing water around their properties where mosquitoes breed.

Further, to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases:

• Apply insect repellent with DEET according to label instructions when outdoors.
• Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, at dawn and at dusk, and especially for the first two hours after sunset.
• When outdoors, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and other protective clothing.
• Contact your veterinarian for information on a vaccine for horses.
• Exclude mosquitoes from your home with tight fitting screens on doors and windows.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com or City Editor Jennifer Pearson Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.