• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

West Nile Virus

Re: West Nile Virus

> From:
West Nile virus in the New World: potential impacts on bird species

West Nile virus (WNV) was first isolated in Uganda in 1937, and was subsequently documented as a relatively benign arbovirus across much of Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe (Hub?lek and Halouzka 1999). It was viewed as a cause of mild febrile illness in humans, with no apparent negative effect on birds. WNV nevertheless caused several major human disease outbreaks, for example in South Africa in 1974 and Algeria in 1994. WNV was not fully appreciated as a serious human health concern, however, until the encephalitis outbreaks in Romania in 1996?1997, which involved hundreds of human clinical cases and a 9% case-fatality rate. Other recent outbreaks have seemed to come at shorter intervals, and with more severe effects, both on humans and on birds, suggesting to some the possible evolution of a new, more virulent strain.
 

Attachments

Re: West Nile Virus

Lobo,
A family member almost died of a mysterious disease about eight months ago. The medical community here in NC thought it might be WNV. He had just returned from Venezuela. He suffered from severe headaches, flu like symptoms. He had to delay a film he was making for two months. We thought he was going to die. They also checked for Lyme disease. It still remains a mystery. What do you think?
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Roman, I am not a physician. Did the NC medical physicians give him a titre test to confirm an immune response to WNV?

There are lots of viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc... in the world that can present those symptoms.

If your relative is still having problems, or is concerned about future problems, I would ask him to shop around for additional medical opinions.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

"I would ask him to shop around for additional medical opinions."

He survived. The movie is wrapping up. The investors are happy. The local doctors never gave him an answer. He was interviewed by the CDC. They had no answer. It's weird, because they performed every test they could and found nothing. He had a temperature of 103/4, he was very sick, massive headache. Strange.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Warmest January on Record Alerts Experts to a Potential 'Mosquito Mayday'

New Active Ingredients Recommended by CDC Offer More Options for Protection; New Online Brochure Helps People 'Pick the Right Repellent'

ST. LOUIS, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States had its warmest January on record this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That, combined with wet weather in pockets of the country and debris from a season's worth of heavy storms, means mosquitoes -- and the diseases they carry -- could very well be a serious health threat again this year.

The unseasonably warm January, coming on the heels of rains ending the drought that much of the country has suffered for the past year, provides perfect conditions for massive numbers of mosquitoes to hatch with the first warm, wet day. Compounding the problem is debris from last year's hurricanes and other recent storms, which offers those new mosquitoes plenty of places to rest and lay more eggs.

The good news for consumers is that they have more options than ever in protecting themselves from mosquitoes. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control recommended two new active ingredients as effective alternatives to DEET:

-- Picaridin, which is virtually odorless with a light, clean feel.
Picaridin was introduced in the U.S. last year in Cutter Advanced.
-- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, a plant-based repellent, available under the
Repel brand name.


Based on the immediate popularity of these products last year, Spectrum Brands, the manufacturer of both Cutter Advanced and Repel, is expanding its line of Picaridin products to include wipe and aerosol forms and higher concentration formulas providing protection for up to eight hours.

Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Disease, recently reported at the National Conference on West Nile Virus, "We have more people living in areas where West Nile virus is, and the reality is the potential for bad news has never been greater."

What can people do to protect themselves this summer against mosquito bites and the potential diseases they carry? Simple -- much the same way people won't go outside without sun protection, they need to use an insect repellent whenever they go outdoors.

"The single most important thing individuals can do to protect themselves is wear insect repellent because it is the last line of defense against mosquito bites," said former Navy medical entomologist Joe Conlon, now a technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association. "And with two alternatives to DEET recommended by the CDC, people now have choices in safe, effective protection."

New Repellent Options

While DEET-based mosquito repellents have set the standard for protection in the U.S. for decades, many consumers have voiced some dissatisfaction with the odor and skin feel. Also, DEET is a plasticizer, meaning the chemical reacts aggressively with plastics, coatings, and other synthetic materials. (For example, DEET can "melt" plastic flip-flops, ruin camping equipment, or leave fingerprints on plastic or varnished surfaces.)

Currently, only two in five American adults use insect repellents. To help improve usage rates, last year the CDC recommended two new active ingredients in addition to DEET for effective protection against West Nile virus: Picaridin and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

Spectrum Brands is the only company in the U.S. to offer repellents with DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus -- all available under the Cutter and Repel brand names. "We are working hard to educate people about these new active ingredients and how to choose the repellent that's right for them and their family," said Mark Bauman, marketing director, Spectrum Brands. "By offering repellents with all three CDC-recommended active ingredients, we hope we are encouraging the 60 percent of Americans who don't use any repellents to try something this summer."

In addition not damaging plastics or other synthetic materials, Picaridin and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus also have a variety of other benefits:

Picaridin - introduced in the U.S. last year in Cutter Advanced (7
percent Picaridin), it provides the same, effective protection as
DEET, but in a formula that is virtually odorless with a light, clean
feel. These improved cosmetic benefits could reduce consumers'
aversion to applying repellents. This year, Cutter Advanced Sport (an
aerosol with 15 percent Picaridin) lasts twice as long as the original
pump and also protects against ticks. The original Cutter Advanced
also is now available in a wipe form, allowing for more controlled
application. Picaridin is safe to use on children older than two
months.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) - derived from the Eucalyptus Citriodora
tree, this active ingredient -- registered with the Environmental
Protection Agency and tested for safety and efficacy -- is proven
effective against mosquitoes and ticks. This active ingredient is
available in the U.S. exclusively in Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, which is
a 40 percent OLE pump. This repellent is the perfect option for those
who want a natural product. Lemon Eucalyptus is recommended for
children older than three years.


Both Cutter Advanced and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus are priced comparable to DEET-based repellents.

According to Conlon, there is one key factor on deciding which active ingredient to choose when selecting an insect repellent: "The most important thing is for people to pick a repellent they are going to use ... and then use it."

A free brochure titled "How to Pick the Right Repellent" is available online at several Web sites, including http://www.cutteradvanced.com/ , http://www.repel.com/ , http://www.picaridin.com/ , and http://www.lemoneucalyptus.com/ . The brochure provides more information on DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, including protection times and safety information.

For more information about the West Nile virus and ways to protect against mosquitoes, visit http://www.cdc.gov/westnile .

About Spectrum Brands, Inc.

Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPC) is a global consumer products company and a leading supplier of batteries, lawn and garden care products, specialty pet supplies, shaving, grooming and personal care products, household insecticides, and portable lighting. Spectrum Brands' products are sold by the world's top 25 retailers and are available in more than one million stores in 120 countries around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Spectrum Brands has approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. The company's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SPC.

Website: http://www.cutteradvanced.com/
Website: http://www.repel.com/
Website: http://www.picaridin.com/
Website: http://www.lemoneucalyptus.com/
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Apr 30, 2006 10:24 am US/Pacific

Vector Control Detects West Nile In Salton Sea

(CBS) SALTON SEA, Calif. The West Nile virus was detected in five mosquito pools on Salton Sea's north shore.

The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control discovered the virus Friday and launched measures to stem the onslaught of the disease.

Although West Nile affects less than 1 percent of the population, it gives flu-like symptoms that can become deadly.

The vector control district recommends people to wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes tend to be most active. In addition, the use of insect repellant, repairs of broken or ripped window and door screens and the removal of standing water can minimize risks.

People with private ponds can receive free "mosquitofish" to eat larvae.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Birds of the Salton Sea:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r1/salton.htm

Bird Watching at the Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge
By Lynn Bremner:
http://www.desertusa.com/salton/oct_salton.html

..."Heavy migrations of waterfowl, marsh and shorebirds appear during the spring and fall. During the winter and spring, a variety of smaller birds and raptors occupy the refuge."...

..."Thousands of waterfowl and other birds spend the winter here. Canada Geese, Snow Geese, American Avocets, Black-Necked Stilts, Pintails, Green-winged Teal, Eared Grebes and a wide variety of other species are commonly seen during the winter."
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Simple preps for an emerging disease....

Preparing for West Nile Virus
By Kim Carollo
Posted: Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 3:31 PM
http://www.hoinews.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=7429

Spring is here, and the Peoria Health Department is warning residents about the potential risk for West Nile Virus.

Starting Monday, the department will collect dead birds to test for the virus.

West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes who can spread it after they feed on infected birds.

It can cause inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.

Here are some tips for preventing West Nile Virus:

- Stay indoors at dawn, dusk and early evening -- the times when mosquitoes are most active.

- Use mosquito repellent with 25-to-35% deet when outdoors.

- Get rid of any small pools of water around your house
- Clean your roof gutters.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Governor Issues Mosquito Warning
Charlotte News

Raleigh, NC -- Governor Mike Easley warned people in North Carolina on Friday to protect themselves from diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes.

The bugs spread West Nile Virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lacrosse Virus and other diseases.

Easley declared May 21 through 27 "Tick and Mosquito Borne Illness Awareness Week."

The governor noted that North Carolina leads the country in the number of cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lacrosse Virus.

"Infections from tick and mosquito bites can be serious and result in lengthy illnesses, hospitalization, disability and even death," said Gov. Easley. "North Carolinians need to be aware these illnesses can be prevented by taking personal protection measures and making their surroundings less friendly to ticks and mosquitoes."

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the most common tick borne illness in North Carolina. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, 292 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever had been recorded in the United States by the end of April and North Carolina accounted for 225 of those cases. The North Carolina Division of Public Health reported there were 625 cases in North Carolina during 2005. The state also has other tick borne illnesses, including Lyme Disease, with 49 cases reported last year and Ehrlichiosis with 37 cases.

Lacrosse Virus is the most common mosquito borne illness, and it is found mostly in the western part of the state. The CDC also reported that last year North Carolina accounted for more than 46 percent of the country's Lacrosse Virus cases. In 2005, officials with the CDC worked with North Carolina public health experts to address an outbreak of Lacrosse in western North Carolina.

Two other mosquito borne diseases, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus are also found in North Carolina. While Eastern Equine is found largely in the eastern part of the state, West Nile is found across the state.

Although rare, ticks and mosquitoes can kill. Since 2003, two people have died as a result of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and two have died from West Nile Virus.

According to the North Carolina Divisions of Public Health and Environmental Health, people can do the following to protect themselves from ticks and mosquitoes:

- Apply insect repellant according to the label instructions.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover your skin.
- To make your environment less tick-friendly, keep grass short and remove plants that attract wild animals like deer and rodents that carry ticks.
- To make your environment less mosquito-friendly, remove any containers that hold water and make sure that screens and doors fit tightly.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Why follow and research West Nile Virus?

This is not a recent article but it has some good information about West Nile Virus and the "Japanese encephalitis (JE) serogroup of the genus flavivirus, family Flaviviridae". (Solomon, 2004).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: http://scienceweek.com/2004/sa041029-5.htm

MEDICAL BIOLOGY: ON FLAVIVIRUS ENCEPHALITIS

The following points are made by Tom Solomon (New Engl. J. Med. 2004 351:370):

1) During the summers of 2002 and 2003, North America was affected by its largest-ever outbreaks of arboviral encephalitis. West Nile virus caused 2942 cases of meningitis or encephalitis in 2002, with 276 deaths, and 2866 cases in 2003, with 246 deaths.(1,2) West Nile virus, which in the US was first detected in New York in 1999, is one of several mosquito-borne neurotropic members of the Japanese encephalitis (JE) serogroup of the genus flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, that cause similar disease patterns across the globe. These include St. Louis encephalitis virus in the US, Rocio virus, which has caused encephalitis outbreaks in Brazil, and Murray Valley encephalitis virus in Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand. Kunjin virus, which also circulates in Australia, recently has been reclassified as a subtype of West Nile virus. In terms of numbers, the most important member of the group is Japanese encephalitis virus, which causes an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 cases of encephalitis and 10,000 deaths in Asia every year[/B].(3) In addition to viruses of the JE serogroup, the flavivirus genus includes mosquito-borne causes of hemorrhagic fever (e.g., yellow fever and dengue viruses, which also occasionally cause encephalitis) and tick-borne viruses(4).

2) Flaviviruses are small RNA viruses, with an envelope protein that is important for viral attachment and entry into host cells.(4) The recent outbreaks of West Nile encephalitis have raised questions about the epidemiology, clinical features, and management of the disease(5) -- which, to some extent, have already been answered for other members of the serogroup.

3) The epidemiology of flavivirus encephalitis is governed by a complex interplay of climatic, entomologic, human behavioral, viral, and host factors that are not completely understood.[/ These viruses are transmitted naturally among birds in enzootic cycles by bird-biting mosquitoes -- especially the culex genus. Humans become infected inadvertently when they encroach on this cycle, but they are considered "dead-end" hosts because normally they do not have sufficiently high or prolonged viremia to transmit the virus further. However, during 2002 it became apparent that West Nile virus can be transmitted among humans through infected transplanted organs and blood products. In 2003 this finding prompted the screening of blood products, which appears to have been successful in limiting the spread of West Nile virus by this mechanism. Transplacental transmission occurs with Japanese encephalitis virus and recently has been described for West Nile virus as well. Ultrasonographic examination of the fetus is now recommended if maternal illness due to West Nile virus occurs during pregnancy.

4) In Asia, pigs as well as birds are important natural hosts for Japanese encephalitis virus, and because these animals are often kept close to human dwellings, they serve as amplifying or bridging hosts that transmit the virus to humans. In the US, the death of corvid birds (such as crows and blue jays) may serve as a warning that human disease is imminent.

5) Japanese encephalitis is mostly a disease of children, whereas in the US, West Nile encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis are more likely to affect adults.[/ This apparent paradox is probably explained, to some extent, by differences in the intensity of transmission and by acquired immunity. In rural Asia, where exposure to infected mosquitoes is unavoidable, serologic surveys show that almost everyone is exposed to Japanese encephalitis virus during childhood. However, fever develops in only a small proportion (about 1 in 300) of those exposed, and neurologic disease develops in even fewer persons. Thus, Japanese encephalitis does not often occur in adults because, in most cases, they are already immune to the virus. Recent work has examined the role of the virus's nonstructural proteins in eliciting this protective immunity. However, when previously unexposed adults become infected -- for example, when Japanese encephalitis virus spreads to new areas, or when travelers visit Asia -- they, too, are at risk for the disease.(3)

References (abridged):

1. Petersen LR, Roehrig JT, Hughes JM. West Nile virus encephalitis. N Engl J Med 2002;347:1225-1226

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Nile Virus update -- current case count. Accessed June 25, 2004, at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm

3. Solomon T, Dung NM, Kneen R, Gainsborough M, Vaughn DW, Khanh VT. Japanese encephalitis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;68:405-415

4. Burke DS, Monath TP. Flaviviruses. In: Knipe DM, Howley PM, eds. Fields' virology. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001:1043-126

5. Whitley RJ, Gnann JW. Viral encephalitis: familiar infections and emerging pathogens. Lancet 2002;359:507-513

New Engl. J. Med. http://www.nejm.org
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Warming extends diseases into new areas, scientists say
Today's topic: World health
By Doug Struck
THE WASHINGTON POST

TORONTO - Valere Rommelaere, 82, survived the D-Day invasion in Normandy, but not a mosquito bite. Six decades after the war, the hardy Saskatchewan farmer was bitten by a bug carrying a disease that has spread from the equator to Canada as temperatures have risen. Within weeks, he died from West Nile virus.

Global warming -- with an accompanying rise in floods and droughts -- is fueling the spread of epidemics in areas unprepared for the diseases, say many health experts worldwide. Mosquitoes, ticks, mice and other carriers are surviving warmer winters and expanding their range, bringing health threats with them.

Malaria is climbing the mountains to reach populations in higher elevations in Africa and Latin America. Cholera is growing in warmer seas. Dengue fever and Lyme disease are moving north. West Nile virus, never seen on this continent until seven years ago, has infected more than 21,000 people in the United States and Canada and killed more than 800.

The World Health Organization has identified more than 30 new or resurgent diseases during the past three decades, the sort of explosion some experts say has not happened since the Industrial Revolution brought masses of people together in cities.

"We didn't even know West Nile virus existed here," said Maria Bujak, 63, of Toronto. Her husband, Andrew, contracted the disease in their garden in 2002. He never fully recovered, she said, and died two years later.

"Tropical diseases are here to stay in Canada. We needed our government to wake up and tell us that," said Douglas Elliott, a Toronto lawyer who has brought suit against the Ontario government on behalf of about 40 victims. They contend that the government did not do enough to inform the public about the dangers of West Nile.

Scientists have warned for more than a decade that climate change would broaden the range of many diseases. But the warnings were couched in the future, and qualified.

The spread of disease is affected by many uncertainties, including unforeseen resistance to antibiotics, failures of public health systems, population movement and yearly climate swings. For that reason, some scientists have been cautious about the link between disease and global warming.

But Paul Epstein, a physician who worked in Africa and is now on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, said that, if anything, scientists aren't worried enough.

"Things we projected to occur in 2080 are happening in 2006. What we didn't get is how fast and how big it is, and the degree to which the biological systems would respond," Epstein said. "Our mistake was in underestimation."

The incremental boost already detected in the Earth's temperature, for example, has expanded the range and activities of disease carriers.

"Insects are exquisitely sensitive to temperature changes," a report prepared by Epstein and others at Harvard's Center for Health and the Global Environment noted in November.

The clearest case for that, according to the report's authors, is in cold areas. The higher elevations of Africa, the Andes mountains in South America and the Alps in Europe are warming at a faster pace than lowlands.

As ice caps and glaciers melt, forests inch higher on the mountains, and insects carry diseases from warmer lowlands farther up the slopes.

A WHO report in 2000 found that warming had caused malaria to spread from three districts in western Kenya to 13 and led to epidemics of the disease in Rwanda and Tanzania.

In Sweden, cases of tick-borne encephalitis have risen as winters have gotten warmer. Asian tiger mosquitoes, the type that carry dengue fever, have been reported recently as far north as the Netherlands.

As the seas warm, other breeders thrive. Cholera, a waterborne disease, emerged in South America in 1991 for the first time in the 20th century. Abetted by poverty and poor public health, it swept from Peru across the continent and into Mexico, killing more than 10,000 people.

Climate change already is claiming more than 150,000 lives each year, with causes ranging from heat waves to respiratory illness, WHO concluded last year.

Some scientists see global warming as a natural cycle that will soon reverse itself, but for many governments, the handwriting is increasingly clear.

Britain's environment minister warned last year that malaria might reach that country.

South Africa's environmental affairs minister warned last year of a fourfold increase in malaria by 2020.

The Canadian government now attributes the rise in West Nile virus to climate change, and last year warned that the country might eventually experience dengue fever, yellow fever and malaria.

"One of the problems we have in North America is coming to grips with the fact that epidemics are still a problem," said Elliott, the lawyer. "Canadians, prior to West Nile virus, just considered mosquitoes to be annoying. We had never thought of mosquitoes as being disease carriers."
 
Re: West Nile Virus

West Nile virus: 'It was like carrying a ton of bricks'

05:14 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 9, 2006
By BRAD HAWKINS / WFAA-TV
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa060509_lj_westnile.26519035.html

Crews will begin fumigating University Park neighborhoods tonight - a full three weeks before they had planned.

As West Nile season starts with weekly updates and counts, what should not be lost in the fog, is how difficult and debilitating the virus can be.

Dr. Don Read, 64, must still brace himself just to get through half-days at the office.

"It was just crushing. It was like carrying a ton of bricks on your back," he said.

"My pulse would be 30 one time and 140 the next. My blood pressure would be way too high one time and then 60-over-40 the next. I was out of work for seven months. I came very close to dying."

Read is an expert on the human body, a surgeon. A year after a late night walk introduced West Nile into his blood, he's well, though not yet recovered.

"Like most physicians who hadn't seen it, I didn't know anything about it."

His crash course started with sleeping 16 and 20 hour days, high fever and drastic weight loss.

Some 48-hours into it, he knew it was West Nile -- even as he became an enigma to his medical colleagues.

"They had a tough time figuring it out."

It had to run its course.

And he knows of others who never bounced back.

"To get sick and end up in a nursing home permanently because you didn't use mosquito repellant is a real high price to pay for not taking some precautions," says Read.

Balance is all around us - these orchids would die with too much water or too little.

It's the natural order and one mosquito bite helped Doctor Don Read find his balance.

"It became obvious to me that my wife was much more important to me than spending more time in the office, seeing more patients and making a few more dollars," said Read.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Nice use of acronyms for West Nile preparedness. Four D's (Below). Remember DEET is flammable and should not be used on childrens clothes or materials that could be potentially exposed to fire. Please follow all safety directions with all three of the CDC recommended products... DEET (various brands...."Picaridin, which is virtually odorless with a light, clean feel.
Picaridin was introduced in the U.S. last year in Cutter Advanced......Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, a plant-based repellent, available under the
Repel brand name" (CDC, 2006)
----------------------------------------------------
Rains May Lead To Booming Mosquito Population
May 11, 2006 08:11 PM PDT
http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=4894672&nav=0s3d

The recent storms left behind more than downed tree limbs. Heavy rains mean our dreaded mosquito season is already buzzing with activity.

The City of Austin's Health and Human Services Department says our heavy rain this May has them gearing up for a heavier and earlier mosquito season this year.

It's a good time to review the four D's.

The first D stands for Dusk and Dawn - the prime times for mosquito activity.

If you can't stay inside during these times, remember the second D -- Dress to protect yourself in long sleeves and longs pants if possible.

The third D stands for Drain any standing water you may have around your home whether it be in flowerpots, birdbaths or kiddie pools.

The fourth D stands for Deet . You want to use insect repellants that have Deet in it.

Remember, mosquito bites can be serious business. Mosquito-born West Nile Virus killed one person and many horses and birds in Travis County last year.
 
Re: West Nile Virus

Updates:

Texas: Mosquitos infected with West Nile virus found around Houston

Wisconsin: Last year, mosquitoes gave us a pass, but this year they're expected.

New York: For Two Transplant Patients, a Dire Complication: West Nile

Montana: West Nile out of the limelight, but still a concern

Oklahoma: Mosquitoes thrive as a result of wet weather

California: Inland area braces for West Nile

> http://www.pe.com - "Most people infected with the virus hardly know it. Only about one in five develop noticeable symptoms -- a headache, fever, severe fatigue and a rash. Less than one in 100 cases produces life-threatening complications, including a polio-like paralysis or infection of the brain or spinal column."

Basic Preparedness Info:(Those infected.....)

1 in 5 gets West Nile Fever - "a headache, fever, severe fatigue and a rash"

1 in 100 gets West Nile encephalitis or meningitis - "life-threatening complications, including a polio-like paralysis or infection of the brain or spinal column."
 
Last edited:
Re: West Nile Virus

Study links droughts with spreading West Nile virus
http://www.oregonlive.com/science/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1147755368194380.xml&coll=7

People rightly associate wet weather and mosquitoes. But droughts may play a key role in spreading the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, at least in southern Florida.

Scientists from Oregon State University and the University of Florida mapped the spread of West Nile and another mosquito-carried virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis. They checked rainfall maps against infections in people and chickens tested for the virus. Cases were more common in regions that had seen a spring drought, followed by summer rainfall.

During droughts, the scientists think mosquitoes gather in remaining wet, vegetated areas that also attract birds, which can carry the viruses. This helps spread viruses among the mosquitoes, which move farther away when summer rains come and bite other animals.

The study is more complex than many models that simply link total annual rainfall with mosquito and virus levels. The findings could help target programs to spray for mosquitoes and control viruses. The researchers hope to do similar studies in other U.S. regions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently published the Florida study.

------------------------------------------------------------
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top