The state Department of Health and Hospitals says two new cases of West Nile were reported this week but there are no new deaths. They say there have been 130 reported cases of the virus in Louisiana this year with 6 of those resulting in death. One of the new cases was reported from Caddo Parish and one from East Baton Rouge Parish. Heath officials are urging Louisianians to continue to take steps to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

Meanwhile they are encouraging people to focus less on the Ebola scare. The state’s medical director, Dr. Frank Welch, says Louisiana is preparing intensively for the possibility of an Ebola patient entering the health care system here at any level…:
CUT 5 (08) “beforehand”
He says the main concern is to make sure health care workers are kept safe.

Entergy says they’ve gotten the number of people without power in Ouachita Parish down to about 500 as cleanup continues today. The Red Cross damage assessment team concluded its survey of destroyed infrastructure yesterday afternoon and found that 653 homes in some way were touched by the tornado and storm last week. They say 20 homes were destroyed and 99 had major damage. FEMA is continuing their survey of damage today.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested the father and step-mother of the 11-year-old boy who ran away from home in Plain Dealing on charges of child abuse, neglect, and drug charges. Lt. Bill Davis says the massive search for the boy began Tuesday evening and no one could find him…:
CUT 6 (09) “to the family”
Apparently the parents had allegedly been abusing the boy and he hadn’t been to school in two years which is why they were booked.