Lubbock In Fear of West Nile
By: Brittany Escobar
Updated: August 29, 2012
Dr. Christopher Piel said anytime there's an outbreak of some disease in the community they tend to see a lot more patients.
He said he's seen patients come in fearing they have West Nile Virus.
"We usually evaluate them and calm their fears and see what's going on," said Piel.
He said he takes his patients symptoms into consideration for West Nile, but he usually skips the test and health officials said that's his choice.
"It's the physician's choice whether or not he tests them," said Beckie Brawley with the Lubbock Health Department.
She said in 2010 there were eight confirmed cases of West Nile in Lubbock County, zero cases in 2011 and this year they expect there to be more than just these three.
"I assume we're probably going to see more cases," said Brawley.
Brawley said there's more to confirming a case of West Nile than just a clinical diagnosis.
"We have to wait for lab confirmation before we call the people, investigate, before we can tell you guys its a case we need all the lab confirmation."
