As mosquito activity increases across the country, West Nile virus is once again drawing national attention. USA TODAY recently featured Jade Le, M.D., chief of infectious disease at Access TeleCare, to help readers understand how to reduce their risk. Dr. Le continues to be widely sought after for national infectious disease expertise, contributing commentary in recent months on Ebola, hantavirus, and the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Dr. Le shared practical prevention measures, including eliminating standing water, using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, maintaining window and door screens, and taking additional precautions during peak mosquito activity around dusk and dawn.
The guidance is timely, but Dr. Le’s expertise extends well beyond prevention. Through Access TeleCare, she and other infectious disease specialists help hospital teams recognize and manage infections that may be difficult to diagnose, particularly when symptoms overlap with more common conditions.
That expertise proved critical when an older patient arrived at a West Texas hospital with fever, lethargy, and worsening mental status. Initial imaging, blood cultures, and urine cultures did not reveal the cause. After reviewing the case remotely, an Access TeleCare infectious disease specialist suspected an acute central nervous system infection and ordered testing for West Nile virus.
The result confirmed the first known case in the area.
With the diagnosis established, the specialist refined the patient’s treatment plan and adjusted medications. The patient was discharged to a skilled nursing facility within two days. The care team also notified state and county health officials, prompting greater mosquito surveillance and public health awareness across the community.
The case illustrates the broader value of timely infectious disease access. West Nile virus can present with symptoms that resemble sepsis, encephalopathy, or other neurologic conditions.
“A rare diagnosis like this may very well have gone unnoticed without timely intervention from an experienced infectious disease expert,” Dr. Le said.
For community hospitals, teleInfectious Disease provides direct access to physicians who can help identify uncommon infections, guide appropriate testing, support antimicrobial decisions, and coordinate with public health authorities when a diagnosis carries implications beyond a single patient.
Dr. Le’s recent USA TODAY feature underscores the same expertise Access TeleCare brings to hospitals every day: informed prevention, earlier recognition, and clinical guidance when the diagnosis is anything but obvious.
Read Dr. Le’s full commentary in USA TODAY and explore the West Nile virus patient impact story to see how teleInfectious Disease expertise can protect patients and communities.
