Dr. Lena Bretous

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  www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/20662859.html - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/20/2008    Last Visited: 6/24/2008  

  "It is important to learn how to avoid mosquito bites to reduce our chances of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases, as well as to conduct mosquito prevention and control efforts year-round, but especially so during summer and fall," said Dr. Lena Bretous, epidemiologist for vector-borne diseases with DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control.

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  www.scdhec.org/administration/news/2007/nr20070730-01.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/30/2007    Last Visited: 10/6/2007  

  "We have spoken to or e-mailed coaches and representatives of over 20 teams scattered throughout the state," said Lena Bretous, M.D., of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."We also still want to speak with the person who put the gray kitten into a trash can at the Boiling Springs complex as their health could be in jeopardy."
  
  Bretous said among the teams still to be contacted and ages of the players include "Americaz Most Wanted," (16 and under) and the Carolina Thunder Cats (16 and under).
  
  "So far, only one person from Spartanburg County is undergoing post-exposure treatment," Bretous said."However, it is vital for us to reach everyone who participated in the softball tournament to evaluate anyone who might have been exposed to stray kittens in the area of the facilities."
  
  Dr. Bretous said fields used in the South Atlantic Summer Showdown tournament included the 295 Sports Complex, 2100 Southport Road, Spartanburg; Southside Complex off Groce Road, Spartanburg; North Spartanburg Complex, 1150 Old Furnace Road, Boiling Springs; and the Boiling Springs Youth Athletic Association Complex on Bryant Road in Boiling Springs.
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  Bretous said anyone who was at any of the recreational facilities for softball tournament games July 13-15 and had direct contact with a gray kitten that was passed around in a box or any other stray kittens in that area should call their local health department for evaluation.Anyone who was bitten, scratched, licked or otherwise exposed to a kitten's saliva should call their local health department for evaluation.Simply petting the kitten is not a risk for rabies.To reduce the risk of rabies, parents should teach their children to avoid picking up or handling strays.
  
  Dr. Bretous said anyone with information about the two teams or who placed the kitten in the trash barrel should contact their local DHEC county public health department.

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  www.scdhec.org/administration/news/2008/nr20080415-02.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/15/2008    Last Visited: 7/2/2008  

  "Most people infected with West Nile virus do not get sick, but if they do it can manifest itself in two different ways," said Lena Bretous, M.D., with DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."About 20 percent of those infected with the West Nile virus get a mild flu-like illness called West Nile fever, which lasts several weeks.People generally recover from West Nile fever, however sometimes recovery can take several weeks or months.
  
  "About one of 150 people infected with the West Nile virus develops West Nile neuroinvasive disease.WNND is a more severe illness involving infection in the brain.People over the age of 50 are more at risk to develop WNND, which can cause death," Dr. Bretous said.

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  www.postandcourier.com/news/2008/apr/17/summerville_bir - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/17/2008    Last Visited: 4/17/2008  

  Most people infected with West Nile virus don't get sick, but about 20 percent get West Nile fever, which can last several weeks, Dr. Lena Bretous with DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control said in a statement on the agency's Web site.

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  www.scdhec.org/administration/news/2007/nr20070731-02.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/31/2007    Last Visited: 10/6/2007  

  "Aiken County has the state's first confirmed human West Nile virus case for 2007," said Dr. Lena Bretous, M.D., epidemiologist for vector-borne diseases with DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control.
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  "Most people infected with West Nile virus do not get sick, but if they do it can result in two types of illness," said Bretous."About 20 percent of those infected with the West Nile virus get a mild fever illness called West Nile fever, which lasts several weeks.People generally recover from West Nile fever, however sometimes recovery can take several weeks or months.
  
  "About one out of 150 people infected with the West Nile virus develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease.WNND is a more severe illness involving infection in the brain.People over the age of 50 are more at risk to develop WNND, which can cause death," Dr. Bretous said.

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  www.scdhec.org/administration/news/2007/nr20070727-01.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/27/2007    Last Visited: 10/6/2007  

  "We have spoken to or received e-mails from nearly 20 teams scattered around the state," said Lena Bretous, M.D., of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."We still need to hear from several other teams who were at the tournament complexes July 13th through the 15th; as well as the person who left the gray kitten in a barrel-type trash can near a playing field dugout at the Boiling Springs complex."
  
  Bretous said among the teams still to be contacted and ages of the players include "Carolina Thunder,"(16 and under); "Carolina Sandlappers," (14 and under); "Carolina Crush," (10 and under); "Carolina Crush," (18 and under); "Americaz Most Wanted," (16 and under); "Palmetto Wildfire," (18 and under); "Parker Eagles," (14 and under); "Palmetto Gators," (12 and under); "Carolina Swarm," (14 and under); "Upstate Outlawz," (16 and under) and "Upstate Outlawz," (12 and under).
  
  "So far, only one person from Spartanburg County is undergoing post-exposure treatment," Bretous said."However, it is vital for us to reach everyone who participated in the softball tournament to evaluate anyone who might have been exposed to stray kittens in the area of the facilities."
  
  Dr. Bretous said fields used in the South Atlantic Summer Showdown tournament included the 295 Sports Complex, 2100 Southport Road, Spartanburg; Southside Complex off Groce Road, Spartanburg; North Spartanburg Complex, 1150 Old Furnace Road, Boiling Springs; and the Boiling Springs Youth Athletic Association Complex on Bryant Road in Boiling Springs.
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  Bretous said anyone who was at any of the recreational facilities for softball tournament games July 13-15 and had direct contact with a gray kitten that was passed around in a box or any other stray kittens in that area should call 2-1-1 or their local health department for evaluation.
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  Dr. Bretous said anyone who thinks they were exposed should call the closest public health department in their state.

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  www.scdhec.org/administration/news/2007/nr20070726-01.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/26/2007    Last Visited: 10/6/2007  

  "We have spoken to or received emails from teams in the Midlands, Low Country and Upstate regions of South Carolina," said Lena Bretous, M.D., of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."We still need to hear from others who were at the tournament complexes July 13 through the 15th to determine who else might have been exposed to stray kittens.Because life-saving medical treatment might be necessary, we want to speak to anyone who is at risk, including the person who left the gray kitten in a barrel-type trash can near a playing field dugout at the Boiling Springs complex."
  
  Dr. Bretous said DHEC staff have heard from and are contacting a number teams from throughout the state that participated in the softball tournament.
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  "Rabies is 100 percent fatal," Bretous said.
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  To reduce the risk of rabies, parents should teach their children to avoid picking up or handling strays," Bretous said.
  
  Dr. Bretous said one person in Spartanburg County is undergoing post-exposure treatments.
  
  DHEC is coordinating its investigation with several other states.Dr. Bretous said anyone who thinks they were exposed should call the closest public health department in their state.

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  www.scdhec.org/administration/news/2007/nr20070725-01.h - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/25/2007    Last Visited: 10/6/2007  

  "We're working to determine which softball teams were playing at the Boiling Springs and Highway 295 sports complexes on July 14," said Lena Bretous, M.D., of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."To determine if medical treatment is necessary, we're also trying to find the individual who left the gray kitten in a barrel-type trash can near a playing field dugout at the Boiling Springs complex."
  
  Dr. Bretous said anyone who was at the two recreational facilities for softball tournament games on July 14, and had direct contact with a gray kitten that was passed around in a box, should call their local DHEC County Public Health Department during regular office hours for further evaluation.
  
  "The deadly rabies virus is spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal or by direct contact of the animal's saliva with an open wound or into the person's mouth or eyes," Dr. Bretous said."If you think you have been exposed to the rabies virus through a bite, scratch or the saliva of a possibly infected animal, immediately wash the affected area with plenty of soap and water and be sure to get medical attention and report the incident to DHEC."
  
  According to Dr. Bretous, just petting the kitten is not a risk for rabies, but she advises parents to teach their children to avoid petting or picking up strays.

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  www.wrdw.com/health/headlines/16779601.html - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/18/2008    Last Visited: 4/2/2008  

  "It is important to learn how to avoid mosquito bites to reduce our chances of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases, as well as to conduct mosquito prevention and control efforts year-round, especially during spring, summer and fall," said Dr. Lena Bretous, epidemiologist for vector-borne diseases with DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."Mosquitoes become infected with the virus when they feed on infected birds.They then transmit the virus, during feeding, to humans and animals."
  
  In addition to preventing mosquitoes from breeding, Dr. Bretous advises people to practice personal protection measures to avoid mosquitobites:

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  www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=52037 - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/30/2007    Last Visited: 7/30/2007  

  "We have spoken to or e-mailed coaches and representatives of over 20 teams scattered throughout the state," said Dr. Lena Bretous, M.D., of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control."We also still want to speak with the person who put the gray kitten into a trash can at the BoilingSprings complex as their health could be in jeopardy."
  
  Bretous said among the teams still to be contacted and ages of the players include "Americaz Most Wanted," and theCarolina Thunder Cats.Both teams have members aged 16 or younger.
  
  "So far, only one person from Spartanburg County is undergoing post-exposure treatment," Bretous said."However, it is vital for usto reach everyone who participated in the softball tournament to evaluate anyone who might have been exposed to stray kittens in the areaof the facilities."
  
  Dr. Bretous said fields used in the South Atlantic Summer Showdown tournament included the 295 Sports Complex, 2100 Southport Road,
  ...
  Bretous said anyone who was at any of the recreational facilities for softball tournament games July 13-15 and had direct contact with a gray kitten that was passed around in a box or any other stray kittens in that area should call their local health department for evaluation.Anyone who was bitten, scratched, licked or otherwise exposed to a kitten's saliva should call their local health department forevaluation.Officials say simply petting the kitten is not a risk for rabies.To reduce the risk of rabies, parents should teach their children to avoid picking up or handling strays.
  
  Dr. Bretous said anyone with information about the two teams or who placed the kitten in the trash barrel should contact their local DHECcounty public health department.

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