GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The West Nile death of a Spanish-speaking man in Grand Rapids is raising questions about how to get health warnings to those who speak little or no English.

Family members of Miguel Hernandez, 80, said they had not heard the warnings about West Nile from local health officials. In fact, they had never heard of the virus until he was diagnosed early this month.

“This is something new to us,” said the victim’s nephew, Israel Hernandez, who often translates for the family.

Miguel Hernandez, a native of Mexico who lived on Grandville Avenue SW, died Saturday after 19 days in the hospital with West Nile.

“We couldn’t believe it,” his nephew said. “We didn’t believe it that a small mosquito can do all that stuff to him.”

Hernandez was among five Kent County residents diagnosed with West Nile so far this year, which is expected to be especially bad for the virus. Kent County Health Department officials said the other four are still being treated — three of them with serious symptoms, including some paralysis. One, a 64-year-old man from Grand Rapids, is near death. Health officials described him as nonresponsive.

While El Vocero, the local Spanish newspaper, has reported on West Nile, not all Spanish media have, including La Voz, the magazine published by Jose Flores.

“We have not received the alerts that this is a crisis situation,” Flores said.

“I think there has to be a lot more activism on the part of the health department for Kent County to make sure people know what West Nile virus is and to make sure they’re getting the word out,” he continued.

Ann Marie Rivera of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan said her agency wants to work with the health department to spread the word.

“It’s an eye-opener,” she said. “Just as it’s not available in Spanish, I mean, we could take it further. Is it available in Vietnamese? Is it available in Chinese? I think all communities need to be aware of something like this.”

Health officials said there are at least 40 different languages spoken in Kent County. Hispanic people make up more than 10 percent of the county’s population, though it’s not known how many speak little or no English.

The Kent County Health Department, which sends alerts in English-only press releases and social media, said it will take a closer look at getting out the message to everybody.

“When we hear these types of things, it definitely shows areas where we can improve upon, how we get communications to individuals in our community,” Brian Hartl, the health department’s epidemiology supervisor, said.

This, according to Hernandez’s nephew, should be the message:

“To use protection against mosquitoes so they don’t get infected, get any sickness, especially this one, because it’s sad.”

Hernandez’s family is working with Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service and the Mexican Consulate to send his body home to Mexico City, but said the cost could reach $13,000. They have put boxes in some shops in Hispanic neighbors to help raise the money.