CDC Telebriefing on West Nile Virus Update Today 12:00 PM ET

[sharon sanders]

[FONT=&quot]Media Advisory[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]For Immediate Release [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]August 29, 2012[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Contact: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]CDC Division of News and Electronic Media[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](404) 639-3286[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CDC Telebriefing on West Nile Virus Update[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WHAT:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services will host a telephone-only media briefing to discuss updated West Nile Virus numbers and provide an update on the situation in Texas. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WHO:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Lyle R. Petersen, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]David L. Lakey, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WHEN: [/FONT]Wednesday, August 29^th at Noon ET

[FONT=&quot]DIAL-IN:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]* Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]DIAL-IN:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Media: 888-795-0855[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Non-Media: 800-369-1187[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]INTERNATIONAL: 1-517-319-9309[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]TRANSCRIPT[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A transcript of this press conference will be available following the briefing at [/FONT][FONT=&quot]www.cdc.gov/media[/FONT][FONT=&quot]. [/FONT]

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: CDC Telebriefing on West Nile Virus Update Today 12:00 PM ET

FluTrackers Notes on Twitter:

CDC Telebriefing on WesLyle R. Petersen, M.D., M.P.H., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention beginning #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lyle R. Petersen, M.D., M.P.H., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention beginning #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Cases of West Nile increasing. As of Aug 28 - 48 states have reports animal and human cases. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Peterson - Highest number ever reported cases of West Nile virus in the period Jan-Aug #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Number of neuro-invasive West Nile virus cases give best estimate of total number of cases #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Wear insect repellent, empty water holders, wear long pants and sleeves #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Half of all US cases this year have occurred in Texas #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

David L. Lakey, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services now speaking ... #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lakey - Not convinced case numbers have peaked yet. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lakey - 783 state confirmed cases -up 197 cases. Deaths up 10 at 31. 416 neuro-invasive cases - up 93 #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lakey - Aerial and ground mosquito spraying as cities ask. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lakey - Coordinating all local public health depts and working with CDC. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Neuro-invasive cases are meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Meningitis cases doing well. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Encephalitis cases are more serious - some result in life long problems - incl. death #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lakey - 45% of the neuro-invasive cases end up hospitalized - impact not totally quantified at this time. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Looking for mosquito spraying to bring down level of transmission. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Studies show spraying effectively brings down mosquito levels. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - In past seen no increased incidence of mosquito borne disease after hurricanes. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Lakey - More data on Dallas mosquito populations later this week. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - WNV outbreaks are difficult to predict. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know CDC Fact Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factSheet.htm ? . #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Virus del Nilo Occidental: lo que debe saber Hoja informativa de los CDC http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/spanish/wnv_factsheet_spanish.htm ? #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Neuro-invasive percentage is not totally known because the total of West Nile virus cases is not known. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Petersen - Culex mosquitos spead West Nile virus. They like small pools of water to bred. #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

Virus du Nil occidental: Ce qu?il faut savoir http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/languages/french.pdf ? #Canada #Ontario #WNV #fb

Lakey - Age range for neuro-invasive West Nile virus predominately in elderly - but occurring in all age ranges #WNV #USA #Texas #fb

West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know CDC Fact Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factSheet.htm ? . #Canada #Ontario #WNV #fb

Petersen - No West Nile virus vaccine has been taken to phase 3 trial completion. #USA #Canada #Ontario #Texas #WNV #fb

West Nile Virus - CDC - preventive measures that you and your family can take http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm ? #USA #Canada #Ontario #Texas #WNV #fb

Hacer para reducir riesgo de infecci?n con el Virus del Nilo Occidental http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/spanish/wnv_prevention_Spanish.htm ? #EEUU #Canada #Texas #Ontario #fb

Petersen - West Nile virus is endemic in the #USA. #Canada #Ontario #Texas #WNV #fb

Petersen - Transplant, kidney disease, cancer patients... at higher risk for complications with #WNV. #USA #Canada #Ontario #Texas #fb

CDC Telebriefing on West Nile Virus Update is now concluded.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: CDC Telebriefing on West Nile Virus Update Today 12:00 PM ET

hat tip Michael Coston

Today?s CDC West Nile Update





# 6523

For the second week in a row the CDC, in conjunction with the Texas Department of State Health Services, today presented an extended teleconference on this year?s record setting West Nile Virus epidemic.

While the totals are constantly changing, the DVBID has updated the nation?s numbers as reported to ArboNet as of yesterday. Of concern, the number of neuroinvasive cases is the highest that?s ever been reported through the end of August.
​

Forty-three states are reporting human infections, and only Hawaii and Alaska have not reported detecting the virus in humans, birds, or mosquitoes.

So far in 2012 there have been 1590 human infections reported, 889 of which were of the more severe, neuroinvasive type. In addition, 66 deaths have been reported.
​

Texas, which has been particularly hard hit this year, has reported 31 deaths, and 416 neuroinvasive cases.

Neuroinvasive cases (which present with meningitis, encephalitis, or flaccid Paralysis) are severe enough that they result in hospitalization and diagnosis, and so they are considered a better indicator of the scope of each year?s epidemic.

Mild cases ? called West Nile Fever ? often go undiagnosed, with probably only 2%-3% being identified.
​

In terms of impact, based on incidence per 100,000 population, 6 states - Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Louisiana and Mississippi ? have been hardest hit.



Given the incubation period of 10-14 days, and delays in diagnosis and reporting, human case counts are considered lagging indicators. Even though transmission generally peaks in mid to late August, it may be late September or early October before we start to see a noticeable decline in numbers.

For reasons that are complex, and not completely understood, the rate of transmission of the WNV virus to humans varies widely from place to place, and from one year to the next.

Last year was a relatively quiescent year for the West Nile virus, with just 712 cases reported, along with 43 deaths. In comparison, in 2003 more than 4,150 cases were reported, with 284 fatalities.


​

While some have expressed concerns over the heavy rains associated with hurricane Isaac, the CDC is not expecting them to greatly exacerbate the transmission of the virus.

A transcript, and an audio recording of today?s 50 minute teleconference should be available later today at http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
​

The bottom line is that the West Nile Virus is now endemic across most of the United States, and while the absolute risk of infection in many places may be low, the prudent move is to take the recommended precautions against mosquito bites.

And finally, to find out about the West Nile threat in your area, you can visit the DVBID website below:

Links to State and Local Government West Nile Virus Web Sites

Click on a state to link directly to their West Nile virus Web page.

See list below for additional city-level and main State Health Department Web sites.

​

Posted by Michael Coston at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2012/08/todays-cdc-west-nile-update.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2012-08-29T13:34:00-04:00">1:34 PM</abbr>