Health

First West Nile Death This Year Reported In NC

WUNC | By Gurnal Scott

Published September 20, 2013 at 9:39 AM EDT

State health officials have confirmed the first death from West Nile virus in North Carolina this year. The Department of Health and Human Services says the victim was an adult in Wilson County. Privacy rules do not allow the age, name or gender to be disclosed.

West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes and can commonly be found in the state. Acting State Health Director Dr. Robin Cummings said in a department news release that mid-August through mid-October is when most mosquito-borne illnesses occur in North Carolina.

DHHS officials recommend eliminating sites where water collects, and using repellents with DEET as ways to protect yourself. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven cases of West Nile virus were reported in seven North Carolina counties in 2012.

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Gurnal Scott

Gurnal Scott joined North Carolina Public Radio in March 2012 after several stops in radio and television. After graduating from the College of Charleston in his South Carolina hometown, he began his career in radio there. He started as a sports reporter at News/Talk Radio WTMA and won five Sportscaster of the Year awards. In 1997, Gurnal moved on to television as general assignment reporter and weekend anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston. He anchored the market's top-rated weekend newscasts until leaving Charleston for Memphis, TN in 2002. Gurnal worked at WPTY-TV for two years before returning to his roots in radio. He joined the staff of Memphis' NewsRadio 600 WREC in 2004 eventually rising to News Director. In 2006, Raleigh news radio station WPTF came calling and he became the station's chief correspondent. Gurnal’s reporting has been honored by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, the North Carolina Associated Press, and the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.

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