Family working to raise awareness of West Nile virus

Stan Mac has been hospitalized since being infected in August

Stan Mac has been hospitalized since being infected in August

FROM OUR EXCLUSIVE KIES -- SKYCAM NETWORK. WE ARE HEADING INTO MOSQUITO SEASON AND THAT MEANS AN INCREASED RISK FOR THE WEST NILE VIRUS. LESTER, NEBRASKA HAVE MORE CASES OF WEST NILE THAN 80 OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY, 245 TO -- IN THE COUNTRY, IT245. JOINING US ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW AWFUL IT CAN BE. THERE HUSBAND AND DAD BECAME INFECTED LAST YEAR. THANK YOU FOR COMING ON. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. JAMES: STAN WAS INFECTED AUGUST 14 OF LAST YEAR BUT WAS SHOWING SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL. JAMES: AND HE HAS NOT BEEN HOME SINCE? >> HE HAS NOT. HE IS BACK AT MADONNA HOSPITAL CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW. AND STAN WAS -- JAMES: AND STAN WAS HEALTHY? HE WAS A WELDER AND HE WAS ALWAYS OUTSIDE HE WOULD CUT EVERYONE’S LAWN. HE WAS THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THAT MOSQUITO. JAMES: WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE? >> IT HAS BEEN HORRIBLE. >> IT IS A VERY UNKNOWN PROGNOSIS AND IT IS A VIRUS THAT IS IN ITS INFANCY. IT HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS THE SUMMER. JAMES: DOES IT AFFECT MOBILITY? >> VERY MUCH SO. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. JAMES: YOU WANTED TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR WEST NILE. YOU’RE HAVING AN EVENT. TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING. >> TONIGHT IT IS FROM 5:00 UNTIL 10:00. WE ARE HAVING A SILENT AUCTION. YOU CAN COME AND BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE PROCEEDS GOING TO FLOOD VICTIMS AND HELP OUT THE FARMERS SO WE CAN GET THESE STANDING WATER ELIMINATED BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RISK FACTORS. WE JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW IF YOU’RE OUT BEFORE DAWN OR DUSK OR VICE VERSA, HAVE THE KIDS BE WEARING REPELLENT. JAMES: THANK

Family working to raise awareness of West Nile virus

Stan Mac has been hospitalized since being infected in August

Stan Mac was a healthy and happy grandfather until he became deathly ill in August of 2018. He was eventually diagnosed with West Nile virus.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mac was one of 245 Nebraskans who became infected last year. Nebraska saw more West Nile infections than any other state. It also had the country's second-highest death toll. In 2018, 11 people died. Mac spent months in a hospital and is currently at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals - Omaha Campus. He hasn't been home since last summer, when he became sick.His family wants people to know how awful West Nile can be to those who become infected. It's holding an awareness fundraiser Saturday at The MARK in Elkhorn. There will be silent auction items and all proceeds will benefit flood-relief efforts in Nebraska and Iowa.Mac's family fears an even higher number of people could be infected this year because of all the flooding and standing water. The Douglas County Health Department told KETV it isn't sure what to expect with the virus this year and is keeping a close eye on the situation. The fundraiser at The MARK runs from 5 to 10 p.m.

OMAHA, Neb. —

Stan Mac was a healthy and happy grandfather until he became deathly ill in August of 2018. He was eventually diagnosed with West Nile virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mac was one of 245 Nebraskans who became infected last year. Nebraska saw more West Nile infections than any other state. It also had the country's second-highest death toll. In 2018, 11 people died.

Mac spent months in a hospital and is currently at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals - Omaha Campus. He hasn't been home since last summer, when he became sick.

His family wants people to know how awful West Nile can be to those who become infected. It's holding an awareness fundraiser Saturday at The MARK in Elkhorn. There will be silent auction items and all proceeds will benefit flood-relief efforts in Nebraska and Iowa.

Mac's family fears an even higher number of people could be infected this year because of all the flooding and standing water. The Douglas County Health Department told KETV it isn't sure what to expect with the virus this year and is keeping a close eye on the situation.

The fundraiser at The MARK runs from 5 to 10 p.m.

Family working to raise awareness of West Nile virus

Stan Mac has been hospitalized since being infected in August

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