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Volume 119 Nutter 5

Public Health Warning Issued for West Nile Virus Public Health Officials Urge Oklahomans to "fight the bite"
One Nation Under God
The Oklahoma State Department of Health warned all Oklahomans today to do what they can to avoid mosquito bites or face increased risk of West Nile virus. At least one death has now been reported and 24 new cases of WNV have been confirmed in Oklahoma in the past week. "Prevention is the key to protection," said State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline. "One bite from an infected mosquito can lead to a severe and possibly life-altering illness. We urge everyone to use insect repellent when outdoors and to mosquito-proof their home as best possible." Healthy, active adults who are 50 and older have the highest risk of illness caused by WNV. That's certainly true in Oklahoma, where most cases have occurred in persons over 40 and have been neuroinvasive WNV disease, the most severe form of WNV infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. While persons who work outdoors in occupations like farming or construction are at risk of getting bitten by an infected mosquito, most Oklahomans with WNV disease believe they were exposed to mosquitoes and WNV while doing activities around their residence, like working in their yards, tending flower beds or relaxing on the patio. Thus far this year, 55 cases of WNV disease have been confirmed in Oklahomans from 14 counties. The counties with the highest numbers of cases include Tulsa (14), Oklahoma (12), Carter (9), Pittsburg (7), Muskogee (3), and Garfield (2). The age range of cases is 12 to 90 years. Since WNV activity in Oklahoma often does not peak until September or early October, more cases are expected. Illness associated with WNV ranges from no symptoms at all to milder "West Nile Fever" symptoms to serious neurologic disease. Symptoms of West Nile Fever include sudden onset of fever, headache, nausea, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash are also present with West Nile Fever. Symptoms of serious neurologic WNV disease can progress quickly and may include high fever, headache, stiff neck, mental confusion or disorientation, numbness, convulsions, and coma. A polio-type paralysis of an arm or leg may also be caused by WNV. Some of the neurological effects of WNV may be permanent or fatal. Persons should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms develop, especially within two weeks after mosquito bites. Oklahomans are urged to "fight the bite" and take the following precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites: Use an insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing when you go outdoors. (Insect repellent with permethrin should be used on clothing only.) Place mosquito repellent in a handy and visible location in the home for easy access. Repair or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home. Prevent items such as buckets, cans, flower pots, and tires from holding standing water so mosquitoes don't have a place to breed. Empty, clean and refill your bird baths and pet's outdoor water bowl daily. Clean leaves and debris from rain gutters regularly to ensure they are not clogged. For more information on WNV, including prevention, visit http://ads .health .ok.gov and click on "Disease Information" then "West Nile Virus."

INDEX
Page 2 News & Special Reports Page 3 Life Page 4 Classifieds

AT&T CALLS ON NATION'S DRIVERS TO PLEDGE: NEVER TEXT AND DRIVE

Get your Ryan Leader at these Locations:
Terral Peach Orchard Mini Mart Martin's Grocery Mama Josie's Cafe Ryan Ryan Cash Stick's Super Store Ryan Drug Waurika Waurika Travel Stop Waurika Quick Mart Shelton's Grocery Delbert's Grocery Markette Grocery & Station
Americans Urged to Make Lifelong Commitment on Sept. 19 OKLAHOMA CITY, AUG. 15 Wireless provider AT&T*, seeking to bring attention to a serious roadsafety problem, today urged all Americans to pledge to stop texting while driving, and then to join with others Sept. 19 to make a lifelong commitment to never do so again. AT&T, its employees and other supporters are calling on all drivers to go to www. itcanwait.com to take the notexting-and-driving pledge, and then share their promise with others via Twitter (#itcanwait) and Facebook. The pledge effort is part of the company's public awareness campaign aimed directly at stopping the dangerous practice of texting while driving. More than 100,000 times each year, an automobile crashes and people are injured or die while a driver was texting and driving, said Bryan Gonterman, AT&T Oklahoma President, citing a statistic from the National Safety Councill . "The 'It Can Wait' public awareness campaign is focused on a simple, powerful message: that no text is worth dying for," said Gonterman. "From the TV airwaves to our AT&T stores and social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, we will be employing a full court press to educate Oklahoma teens and parents about the dangers of texting and driving." (See video) "We're challenging everyone to take the pledge to never text and drive and to make it a lifelong commitment," he said. "And we're challenging all device makers and app developers to offer devices that come pre-loaded with a no-text-and-drive technology solution." AT&T's "It Can Wait" public awareness campaign is focused on a simple, powerful message: No text is worth dying for. AT&T plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on the campaign in 2012 and has made it an ongoing commitment in future years. The effort is comprised of several key initiatives, including: Encouraging its 240,000 employees to take the pledge and, in turn, urge all people to commit that they will never text and drive. On an average day, AT&T retail store and call center employees speak to customers more than 500,000 times. Working with TV and music celebrities to deliver a strong no-texting-whiledriving message via TV ads, concerts, public appearances, Twitter and Facebook. Launching an aggressive social media campaign with advertising on Facebook and Twitter to encourage Americans to take the pledge and to share their pledges with their friends via social media. Educating the public using TV ads on the dangers of texting while driving that will run during high-profile events and teen-focused programs. Working to provide a toolkit of no-texting-whiledriving information to every high school in the country. Challenging device makers and app developers to work with AT&T so that all devices include a pre-loaded, no-text-and-drive technology solution as soon as possible. Launching an online driving simulator at www.itcanwait.com in the coming weeks so that anyone with access to the Internet can experience the dangers of texting while driving. Bringing an in-car simulator to more than 200 locations before the end of this year. Enlisting others including law enforcement, educators, national retailers, consumer safety groups, legislators and the entire wireless industry to join the notext-and-drive movement. Asking more than 1,000 of AT&T's strategic and other major suppliers to encourage their employees to pledge not to text and drive. "The Oklahoma Sheriff's Association is proud to be involved with AT&T to bring to the forefront the impact of texting while driving, which is an evident distraction to drivers," said Bill Winchester, President of the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association. "The problem has become so prevalent that agencies nationwide are looking at this serious problem. I believe that next to driving while under the influence this is becoming a leading cause of vehicle and pedestrian accidents. "These are intentional acts committed by drivers. Like alcohol and drugs, it's a choice, a bad choice. I applaud AT&T for taking this type of initiative to save lives, and I hope everyone in Oklahoma will sign the pledge not to text and drive," Winchester said. "Working with teens dayin and day-out, we see firsthand the impacts that peer pressure and peer influence have on the decisions they make," said Sandra Spayone, executive director of the National Organizations

Quote of the Week

"When you build a Memorial, you build it not because the person wanted it, but for the future-- For generations who didn't know the man and didn't know the Era in which he lived." -Eleanor Roosevelt

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Dance to Live Music 3rd Sat. August 18, 2012 6-10 PM The American Legion Post 183, Washington @ 5th Ryan, OK Live Music (featuring the "Red River Legionnaires") Donations to help support our Veterans programs. Bring the family children under 7 yrs. old free. PotLuck dinner, bring your favorite dishes and Join us for the fun, dancing and delicious home cooking. benefit

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