Family says Hancock Co. grandfather tested positive for West Nile

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It can happen to anyone. That's the message a Central Indiana family wants to get across.

They say their grandfather was diagnosed with West Nile virus a few days ago. The family wants to keep his identity private, so we’ll call him “John” for the purpose of sharing his story.

They say he’s 73, an avid gardener, and lives in Greenfield. They say just about two weeks ago, he started feeling sick.

“He had a high fever, and he was lethargic,” said his grandson, Ronnie.

His daughter Jaimie took 24-Hour News 8 through her thought process as time went on, “What is wrong with Dad? What is wrong with Dad? When the confusion came on - what is wrong with Dad? Dad doesn’t get confused.”

They say they took him to a Hancock County hospital, where doctors at first thought it was bacterial meningitis, but tested him immediately for West Nile.

This past Friday, “John” was transferred to Community North in Indianapolis, and the family says it was that same time that the test for West Nile came back positive.

“You didn’t really want to hear the words West Nile, because of all the death and black clouds surrounding West Nile,” added Ronnie.

They think he got it from the activity he loves: gardening.

“Morning and nights are the worst times for mosquitoes, and that’s when he gardens,” said Ronnie.

The family says they’re sharing their story so that others may not have to go through what they’re going through.

“No family should have to endure what my family has gone through the last week,” said Ronnie. “No person should have to endure what my grandfather has endured the past week.”

They hope all people take all symptoms seriously.

“High fever that won’t go away,” described “John’s” daughter Jaimie. “A rash. Dad had a rash around his mid section.”

Other symptoms to look out for, according to the CDC, are headache, tiredness, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands.

This family is hoping other people don't wait to go to the hospital, and take precautions when going outside.

As of Friday, Sept. 7, the State Health Department website showed 36 human cases of West Nile confirmed in Indiana. Six cases are confirmed in Marion County, one in Hancock County, and two in Hamilton County. Three people have died across the state from a confirmed case of West Nile.

As for “John,” his family says he just got out of the ICU, and they’re hopeful for his recovery.

“If anybody can fight it, it’d be him,” said Ronnie. “At 74, he’s strong as an ox.”

The family also was concerned that the city of Greenfield wasn’t spraying for mosquitoes.

24-Hour News 8 spoke to the Greenfield mayor on Sunday, and he said the city did start spraying for mosquitoes two weeks ago, for three hours each evening. That's about the same time this family believes their grandfather contracted the virus.