The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today (Tuesday) announced the first West Nile virus death in Iowa since 2010, an elderly (81 years of age and older) individual from Northwest Iowa. Testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) has confirmed 33 cases of West Nile virus in Iowa, with several more under investigation. This is more than double the number of cases reported last year at this time.

IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “Though autumn weather is beginning, this death and continuing reports of West Nile virus cases are reminders that mosquitoes are still biting and Iowans should still be mindful of that when outdoors.”

Iowans should take the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

• Use insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children. For example, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old and oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years old.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes, and socks whenever possible outdoors.

Approximately 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and vomiting. Less than one percent of people infected become seriously ill and rarely, someone dies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people over 60 years of age are at greatest risk for severe disease.

Since West Nile first appeared in Iowa in 2002, it has been found in every county in Iowa, either in humans, horses, or birds. In 2015, 14 cases of West Nile virus were reported to IDPH. Previous to this year, the last death caused by West Nile virus was in 2010, and there were two deaths that year. For more information about West Nile virus, visit idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus.

Council Bluffs Police say a Nebraska woman is in critical but stable condition after being struck by a car Monday night, in Council Bluffs. Authorities say 33-year old Sharee Rhoades, of Omaha, was transported to Creighton CHI in Omaha, after she was hit. Authorities said Rhoades was struck by a 2008 Acura as she was walking east on 9th Avenue at around 7:45-p.m.

The driver of the car, 54-year old Tamara Chamberland, of Blue Springs, MO.,  said she noticed Rhoades walking in the roadway, but was unable to take evasive action in time to avoid striking her. Chamberland was not injured in the crash.

Preliminary investigation indicates that neither speed nor driver impairment appear to be factors in the accident. The Council Bluffs Police Department traffic unit is conducting an investigation into the incident. Any witnesses are asked to call 712-328-4948.

(9-a.m. News)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A judge has sentenced a Council Bluffs man to 50 years in prison for killing his father. The Daily Nonpareil reports Sean Schendel was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree theft, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and obstruction of justice.

Schendel admitted killing Robert Schendel in August 2015 after his father realized his son had stolen $100 from him. During an altercation, Schendel shot his father with a handgun. He then transferred $15,000 from his father’s bank account to his own and drove his father’s minivan to Colorado, where he was arrested in Sterling. Prosecutors say he went to Colorado to buy marijuana from a dispensary to celebrate his 21st birthday.

County Attorney Matt Wilber called it, “A very sad deal.”

Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart has filed charges against two agencies which allegedly sent out mailings to Iowans that misrepresented the terms of insurance plans meant to supplement Medicare. Insurance Division spokesman, Chance McElhaney, says the charges with filed against Cynthia Fitzgerald of the Robert J. Stillwell Agency in Pennsylvania and Senior Direct, Incorporated of Texas.

“As Iowans are making these choices, they need to have the right set of facts in front of them, and so when we see something like this that is misleading to Iowans, we work to put an end to it as soon as possible,” McElhaney. Fitzgerald and the Robert J. Stillwell Agency face four charges and Senior Direct faces three. He says the two contacted thousands of Iowans. “The mailings from Fitzgerald had over 30-thousand mailings to Iowans and the target leads of the division Senior Direct had also a lot of other mailings that went out containing misleading language,” McElhaney says.

The two will get a chance to answer the allegations of the Insurance Division. He says they both will have a hearing. Those hearings are set for December. McElhanney says some Iowans raised concerns about the mailings, and that is exactly what they advise people in their insurance fraud education.”We tell people to ask questions when you get unsolicited emails or phone calls. Ask questions, make sure the information is accurate. If something doesn’t seem right, please let us know,” McElhaney says. “We really encourage Iowans contact the Senior Health Insurance Information Program — SHIIP as it is better known — contact them if you have questions, if you aren’t sure if this is correct.”

He says SHIIP is a good resource for these types of questions. He say you can contact SHIIP to get free and unbiased information about Medicare and Medicare Supplements. McElhaney says Medicare supplement insurance is an important tool for managing health care costs. “It can be a big difference financially for seniors if they either don’t choose a Medicare supplement, or they chose the wrong one,” according to McElhaney.

If you have questions you can go to the Iowa Insurance Division website (www.iid.state.ia.us), or call SHIIP at 800-351-4664. Or visit the SHIIP website at: www.therightcalliowa.gov.