Published: 10/12/2006

Wyandot County man dies of West Nile virus

BLADE STAFF

UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio The Ohio Department of Health today reported that a 68-year-old man from Wyandot County is the state s fourth person to die from the West Nile virus this year.

Kristopher Weiss, a state health department spokesman, said the unnamed victim died on Sept. 21.

Two other men from Wyandot County were also infected with the virus, but survived. A 45-year-old male was diagnosed on Aug. 30 and a 44-year-old male was diagnosed on Sept. 7, Mr. Weiss said.

Two others among the four who have died of West Nile this year were also from northwest Ohio, according to death certificate listings. Jeannette Goede, 81, of Perrysburg died Oct. 1 in St. Luke s Hospital. Eldon Mahlman, 81, of Hamler, Henry County, died Sept. 21 in Toledo Hospital.

The virus is generally transmitted by a mosquito bite. Rain and wet conditions this year contributed to an unusually high number of mosquitos. The danger of mosquito bites and contracting West Nile virus is reduced as temperatures turn colder.

Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.

Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.