Not only the West Nile Virus has infected residents in the United States, but also its neighbor to the north as several provinces in Canada have reported cases of infection due to the virus.
Public health officials in Ontario have reported that 49 probable human cases of the disease have been spotted as of this week. Majority of these cases have occurred in Toronto, where 30 cases have been reported.
Meanwhile, Alberta has announced its first human case since 2010. A female resident of southern Alberta has been admitted for mild symptoms and is expected to make a full recovery. Three other provinces have also reported cases so far in 2012: Manitoba with five, Saskatchewan with one, and Quebec with two. British Columbia has yet to report a case of West Nile Virus.
With the United States experiencing its worst West Nile epidemic so far this year, wherein Texas is the hardest hit, it is likely that an outbreak could also spread in Canada, even as big as 2003 or 2007, according to health experts.
Source: Canada.com
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The number of infections attributed to West Nile virus in the United States has jumped over 60 percent compared to last week in what is reported as the country’s biggest-ever outbreaks of the disease, according to federal officials.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 1,118 cases and 41 deaths had been reported so far this 2012, compared to just 700 cases and 26 deaths one week ago.
The numbers are the highest reported through the third week of August since the West Nile virus was first detected in the country in 1999. The year 2003 remains the worst outbreak yet, with 9,862 cases and 264 deaths.
The cases of West Nile usually increase during summer season because the disease is most often transmitted from infected birds to humans by mosquito bites. There is no specific treatment for the infection, symptoms of which vary from mild to fatal.
Source: Reuters
Photo credit: Reuters/James Gathany/Center For Disease Control/Handout
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With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that the recent outbreak of West Nile virus is the largest ever seen in the United States, with Texas at the epicenter, you feel uncertain whether you are doing enough to protect your family against this potentially fatal disease. CNN shares some useful information about the virus and how to prevent it.
Not all mosquitoes carry West Nile – According to the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program, only about one in 500 mosquitoes carry the virus, even in areas where many cases of infection have been reported.
Most who get bitten by West Nile mosquitoes do not get sick – CDC reports that about 80 percent of people bit by a mosquito infected with the virus do not get sick. About 20% will experience relatively mild symptoms like fever, headache, and vomiting. These symptoms can laso between a few days to a few weeks. Only one in 150 people infected with the virus will develop severe symptoms, which can include paralysis, coma or death. However, do note that even though you do never gotten sick with West Nile, a recent study suggests that prolonged and repeated exposure to the virus may cause kidney diseases.
Prevent West Nile with 4 D’s – These D’s are reminders on what to do to prevent getting infected with West Nile, such as using mosquito repellent with DEET, dressing in long pants and short sleeves, avoid going outdoors between dusk and dawn, and drain any container with standing water where mosquitoes like to breed.
Older people are at higher risk – People over 50 are most likely to experience severe illnesses with West Nile. They should take extra care and precaution to avoid mosquitoes.
Seek medical help immediately even on the mildest symptoms – If you develop symptoms such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, consult a physician immediately. Severe illness usually require you to stay in the hospital, while milder cases improve on their own.
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The recent rainfall and the West Nile Virus have the Texans worried this time. The recent increase of West Nile Virus cases in Dallas has prompted other counties in the state to show concern. The state in fact has currently showed that the explosion of new West Nile Virus cases in the state is considered to be the worst since 1999. Around the country, there have been 26 deaths currently reported and around 700 infections attributed to the West Nile Virus. Of the total, 21 of the cases were reported from Texas and at least 550 of the reported infections.
The concern for the increase in mosquito population is also becoming a concern in the Texas area. These insects are known to be the prime target for the spread of the West Nile Virus among animals and eventually to people. With the higher temperatures and high humidity, mosquito development is known to be quicker than usual. Given such conditions, the development from egg to adult comes in as little as 5 days as compared to the usual 7 to 10 days. The recent rainfall will prove to contribute to this increase.
Although the mosquito problem won’t totally go away, concerns of it getting worse has become the concern for Texas officials. Other parts of the state such as South Plains are increasingly getting worried that the West Nile problem will eventually spread into the area. Denver City, Morton, Sundown, Brownfield and Lubbock Airport reported rainfall that may further contribute to the increase of mosquito population. Although rainfall may not yet be considered as a lot, it is being seen by the officials as a contributor to a possible increase in mosquito population that may also potentially increase the spread of West Nile virus in the state. That is why Texas officials are urging people to become more aware about surroundings that might become potential mosquito breeding grounds. Citizens are also advised to use insect repellants with DEET, wear long sleeved protective clothing when going outdoors, avoid activity during dusk and dawn as well as ensure that standing water around the home is properly drained.
Source: KBCD
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A new study suggest that the West Nile Virus may be more dangerous than previously thought. A research conducted by Baylor University finds that while eight in 10 people infected with West Nile do not get sick, it is likely that persistent infection could lead to kidney disease that gets worse over time.
West Nile expert Kristy O. Murray, PhD, DVM–who spearheaded the research–reports that as many as 9% of people with mild or no initial symptoms of West Nile virus maybe suffering from persistent infection.
The NIH-funded study was conducted by tracking about 200 people infected with West Nile virus over the last 10 years. The research team has found that about 40% of their subjects have shown signs of kidney disease and lasting West Nile virus infection.
Those who have survived severe symptoms of West Nile disease–including meningitis or encephalitis–are most likely to suffer persistent infection and likely to have severe kidney damage. The same kidney infection can happen to people who never had symptoms and only discovered about their West Nile infection when their blood is tested.
William Schaffner, MD, professor and chairperson of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University and president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, calls the finding “important.”
“This study suggests that West Nile virus infection not only can persist, but that like a termite it slowly and surely gnaws away at kidney function,” he says.
Source: Web MD
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The Oklahoma State Department of Health has reported that a total of 3 people living in the state have so far died as a result of the West Nile Virus. Two of the victims died in Oklahoma County while the other was from Seminole County. Aside from the three recent deaths as a result of the West Nile Virus, there was another 38 people who were hospitalized due to the said disease.
Health officials in the state say that this year could be the worst year for the West Nile Virus since an the 2007 outbreak where 20 people from Oklahoma died and 107 people fell ill. Government officials in the state are urging citizens to take personal precautions in order to minimize the incidence of mosquito bites in the area, known to be the primary transmission target of the virus. Most particularly being monitored are seniors and people over the age of 50 who are prone to be hit hard when infected by the West Nile Virus.
Aside from minimizing exposure to mosquito prone areas outdoors, health experts also suggest that Oklahomans certain precautions such as wearing insect repellant when going outdoors. People should try using repellents with 10 to 30 percent of the active ingredient DEET. People should also be aware of stagnant water in their gardens and backyards and try to get rid of them before they become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Source: http://www.newson6.com/story/19294767/state-health-department-west-nile-virus-kills-3-in-oklahoma
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The spreading West Nile virus threat in Dallas is becoming a serious problem that the mayor has declared Wednesday that the city is facing an emergency. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings has declared the emergency in a threat that has so far killed 14 people in the State of Texas alone and 26 nationwide since the threat began several years ago. The emergency declaration in the city will lead to the citywide aerial spraying that would kill the mosquitoes carrying the disease and further abate the impending health threat in the area brought about by the virus.
The West Nile threat has become a yearly issue and concern in the US. And it seems that it is getting more and more serious year by year. The country is currently experiencing a spike in West Nile cases this year with 241 reported cases nationwide, including 4 deaths so far. According to health officials, this has been the biggest spike yet since 2004. And it is expected to go higher still since the problem is still ongoing.
According to a statement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some states are more affected than others by the West Nile virus threat. Of the 42 US states that have reported West Nile infections so far, around 80 percent came from the states of Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.
According to Marc Fischer, a medical epidemiologist from the CDC, “It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years. Regardless of the reasons for the increase, people should be aware of the West Nile virus activity in their area and take action to protect themselves and their family,” he further added.
The West Nile virus is known to be spread and transmitted via infected mosquitoes. The virus can then infect birds, horses as well as humans. An increase in West Nile cases is usually experienced during the months of June to September, with cases peaking sometime around August. For those who gets infected by the West Nile virus, some of the symptoms to look out for include fever, headache, vomiting, body and joint aches and pains as well as diarrhea or rash.
Only around 1 percent of humans infected by the said disease develop serious complications such as encephalitis and meningitis which can become quite fatal. People who are at greater risk are those who are 50 years old and above as well as those with weakened immune systems or people suffering from other diseases such as cancer, diabetes and kidney disease.
Currently, there is no medication available to treat the serious complications brought about by the West Nile virus. Most of the people infected but suffer only mild illnesses usually recover on their own. But those who have developed serious complications may require hospital care.
Source: CNN
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Officials in Dallas County have declared a state of emergency as the West Nile Virus infected more than 190 people, killing 10. Texas is hit with the worst outbreak in the United States.
The unusually warm winter and rainy spring in many parts of Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth, have provided ideal conditions for breeding mosquitoes, the carriers of the virus that causes the fatal disease.
The emergency declaration would pave the way for the county to utilize state money and resources to battle the outbreak. The county will deploy small planes to spray insecticide over hard-hit neighborhoods, apart from the ground spraying being conducted.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Texas contracted the highest number of West Nile infections and has suffered more deaths related to the disease than any other state in the country.
The whole of Texas reported 16 deaths, including 10 in Dallas County, caused by West Nile Virus so far this year. This is compared to just two in 2011, and seven in 2010, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
And the virus is spreading at an alarming rate, with 381 West Nile infections reported in more than 24 Texas counties, compared to just 27 infections last year in a handful of counties.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Photo credit: Evans Caglage, The Dallas Morning News / Associated Press
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Health officials in the city of Plano, Texas have reported two possible human cases of the West Nile Virus. The said cases were reported to have occurred in the Plano zip codes 75074 and 75075, within 5 miles of each other. The said human cases of the West Nile Virus were reported at the Collin Country Health Department by the doctors who were treating the patients.
The West Nile Virus has become big news lately since it arrived in North American shores sometime in 1999. There are two known types of the said virus which can cause differing symptoms. There is the West Nile fever and the neuroinvasive West Nile. It is known that around 80 percent of those who get the West Nile Virus from infected mosquitoes show any visible symptoms. The remaining 20 percent are usually diagnosed with the West Nile fever. The symptoms usually last for a few days to a few weeks. Its main symptoms are fever, headache and fatigue. Other symptoms also include skin rashes swollen lymph glands and eye pain, all of which only appear occasionally.
But the most dangerous version of the West Nile Virus is considered rare that only affects about 1 in every 150 people infected. The serious infection may develop into the West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis. These diseases are most especially dangerous for the elderly and those with poor immune systems. Some of the main symptoms of the disease include high fever weakness, gastrointestinal problems, seizures as well as a distinct change in mental status. The most serious symptoms of the said disease include paralysis and coma.
The first human case of the West Nile Virus in the area was first discovered sometime in mid-June. Since then, health officials in the area and city workers are trying to reduce the mosquito population throughout the Plano area. According to Geoffrey Heinicke, the city’s environmental health manager, “Habitat reduction is the most effective method of keeping mosquitoes out of a person’s backyard. People need to get rid of standing water. We are also identifying other habitats that are conducive to mosquito breeding. We are getting into some of the creeks that have low flow and stagnant water and removing foliage and other things that are impeding the flow.”
As a means to curb down the mosquito population, the city has been using larvicide to kill mosquito larvae found in standing water in the surrounding areas. Mosquito sprays are being used to kill those adult or fully grown mosquitoes. Although it is considered as the most common means of killing mosquitoes, it is not particularly effective.
According to Heinicke, “For the spray to be effective we have to go out when the mosquitoes are the most active, which is late at night to early in the morning. The spray actually has to hit one of the mosquitoes. It doesn’t leave any sort of residual on plants or foliage, so if a mosquito lands it will not pick up any of the insecticide. It is minimally effective when we go out and spray.”
While the city workers are going all out to curb the succeeding incidence of the West Nile Virus, they urge people to play close attention to the symptoms they experience when bitten by mosquitoes. They should be familiar with the common West Nile Virus symptoms and go to a doctor immediately should some symptoms last for more than four days. It is safer to have it diagnosed for West Nile Virus rather than assuming that it is not. For those who live in the Plano area, the city has set up a West Nile Virus hotline which can be contacted at 972-941-7180 to help address any concerns and questions that residents in the area may have regarding the said disease.
Source: http://carrolltonleader.com/articles/2012/07/19/news_update/6979.txt
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Public health authorities in Plano, Texas, have reported that two local people may have contracted the West Nile Virus. The cases occurred in the areas covered by zip codes 75074 and 75075.
According to Geoffrey Heinecke, the city’s environmental health manager, further tests need to be performed to confirm the presence of the disease. The probable cases were brought to the attention of the Collin County Health Department by the doctors treating the patients.
People get West Nile Virus through bites from mosquitoes carrying the virus, which have been spotted in Plano since mid-June. City workers have been working to reduce Plano’s mosquito population.
Heinicke advises the city’s residents to do their part in preventing the spread of mosquitoes. “People need to get rid of standing water. We are also identifying other habitats that are conducive to mosquito breeding. We are getting into some of the creeks that have low flow and stagnant water and removing foliage and other things that are impeding the flow.”
The City of Plano has set up a hotline–972-941-7180–to answer questions residents have about the disease.
Source: Star Local News
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