West Nile strikes Valley woman

A 34-year-old Douglas County woman contracted a serious case of West Nile Virus in July, but beyond the statistic lies the tragedy.

Friends are rallying to help Megan Most, a single mother with three young daughters, who is being treated at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center for encephalitis, meningitis and pneumonia, according to friend Tina Alaniz.

Most was bitten by mosquitoes at an Indian Hills block party on the Fourth of July and the problems started a week later when she started experiencing headaches and nausea, Alaniz said.

"She called me at 3 a.m. with a bad headache and fever," she said. "I took her to the emergency room and they thought it was meningitis, but another doctor didn't agree. They thought it was a viral infection related to her surgical incisions."

Most, who recently had surgery, was referred by emergency room personnel to her surgeon, who prescribed antibiotics. Despite treatment the illness persisted, Alaniz said.

"She was sick and she couldn't keep any food down," she said. "But Megan said the headaches were responding to Motrin."

Most works at the medical center as a certified nurse assistant and Alaniz became suspicious when her friend didn't drop her children off before work, as expected.

Sabrina is 11, Samantha is 9 and Sienna, 6.

"I called the house but she wasn't making sense 9 Monday morning," Alaniz said.

Friends found Most in her apartment with a high fever. Her eyes were rolling back in her head, Alaniz said.

They took her to the emergency room, where a spinal tap was positive for meningitis and her temperature was 105 degrees. She was subsequently admitted to Carson-Tahoe Hospital, where a test for West Nile proved positive, Alaniz said.

In addition to meningitis, Most contracted pneumonia and encephalitis, Alaniz said.

Most is being treated at Carson-Tahoe Hospital's intensive care unit, where she is on a respirator. She could soon be moved to South Meadows in Reno for long-term rehabilitative care, Alaniz said.

"Doctors don't know if she will be able to walk again and they're not sure about the prognosis," Alaniz said. "The problems just keep hitting her."

About one in 150 people infected with West Nile Virus will develop severe illness and neurological effects may be permanent. The disease can be fatal, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga.

The problems for this young mother started about two years ago with a divorce and an extensive series of treatments and surgeries for non-cancerous breast tumors, said her friend, Lori Lane.

"This child has been through more than Job. We need to rewrite the book," Lane said. "But if anyone can just wake up from all this, it's Megan.

"She is the brightest, most cheerful, precious woman," Lane said. "She's a friend to all of us. That's why we're rallying around her. I've told her many times how strong she is and how proud I am of her."

As word has spread of the tragedy, friends have offered their support. Nurses at Carson-Tahoe Hospital are contributing meals for the family and people from 'All About Dance,' where one daughter takes dancing lessons, have offered to help, Alaniz said.

"The Girl Scout troop and the school (Jacks Valley Elementary) found out and they want to help too," she said. "The list is growing."

Most just received a grant to go back to school to get a nursing degree. Instead, her friends are making plans to clear her Gardnerville apartment and move her things to a storage unit, said Alaniz, who has six children of her own.

"After the long-term care, she will probably go back to Southern California with her mom," she said. "But we keep hoping. If there comes a time when she can come home, I have an extra room where she can stay."

To help with hospital and other expenses, an account has been established. At Bank of America. Anyone wanting to contribute can drop a check off at any Bank of America, made out to the Megan Suzanne Most medical fund.

n Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.

BREAKOUT

Megan Most was the second person diagnosed with West Nile Virus in Douglas County this year.

A milder form of the disease was reported last week in a person over 50 years old, according to Martha Framsted, spokeswoman for the Nevada Division of Health.

A total of eight cases of West Nile Virus were detected in Nevada's 17 counties in July. In addition to one case in Douglas County, there were four in Humboldt County, two in Carson City and one in Washoe County.

Last year, only one case was reported in July.

"I can't emphasize strongly enough, the need to take precautions against biting mosquitoes," Framsted said.

Standing water is critical to successful breeding for mosquitoes and should be eliminated. Screens should be installed or repaired if necessary. Mosquito repellent should be used, especially in the evenings or early morning and long sleeves and pants are recommended during those periods, to keep mosquitoes at bay.

About one in 150 people infected with West Nile Virus will develop a severe form of the illness. Symptoms are high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis, and may last for several weeks, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga.

Up to 20 percent of those infected will have fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last just a few days, but even healthy people have been sick for several weeks.

The vast majority, about 80 percent of those contracting the disease, will experience no symptoms.