While more and more cities in the United States have reported cases of West Nile virus both in form of dead birds and humans being admitted to hospitals, not all human cases are reported to authorities. People may mistake the disease as a simple case of flu, which if not treated properly can be fatal in severe cases.
The Mosquito and Vector Control District of California’s Contra Costa County advises people to be aware about the nature around them to get the upper hand in battling the dreaded virus.
According to the district’s public affairs manager Deborah Bass, mosquito season typically begins in late February or early March. If the weather is too cold during that period, that season may be pushed back. A delay in the mosquito season can be one of the reasons why relatively fewers birds and mosquito samples have tested positive this year.
Also, hotter weather during this period could mean more potent viruses in the mosquitoes, which typically lives for 30 to 45 days.
Bass adds that the mosquito season usually ends before October, but she expect more human cases will be reported in her district after that. This is because it usually takes as much as 14 days before the symptoms manifest, which includes, fever, diarrhea, body pains, and vomiting. Since this year’s season is delayed, expect it to end later as well, which Bass says can be as long as two months.
Bass advises to put on mosquito repellent while outside on any time of the day, especially during mosquito season.
Source: Silicon Valley Mercury News
West Nile Virus by .
With the West Nile Virus still posing as a threat in many US states, it pays for people to become more aware and minimize the risks. Those who are always working outdoors may be facing a bigger risk of possibly being infected by mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended certain measures to help lessen the risks of outdoor workers from the threat of WNV.
Outdoor workers such as gardeners, farmers, painters, roofers, construction workers and others should be more ware of the threat of WNV. They have the higher risk of being bitten by WNV carrying mosquitoes that may transfer the virus into them. Not only that, workers handling animals may also be at a certain risk of catching WNV since there is a risk of also getting infected by handling infected animal feces or other contaminated material. Outdoor workers may be able to reduce their risks to WNV exposure by taking the following steps:
Use mosquito repellents when outdoors.
It is advisable for outdoor workers to apply insect repellent that contains DEET when they are working outdoors. A repellent that contains more than 20 percent DEET is recommended for a longer period of protection.
Wear protective clothing when working outdoors.
Outdoor workers are also advised to wear long sleeved shirts and long pants to provide cover as much as possible. Permethrin insect repellants should also be sprayed on clothing especially on thin ones since mosquitoes can easily penetrate on them. But it should also be noted that permethrin repellants should only be sprayed on clothing and not applied directly on the skin.
Avoid direct contact with dead animals without adequate protection.
With the WNV threat still high, outdoor workers should take heed of handling dead animals that they may find. These animals may have been killed by WNV and may be considered a high risk. When a dead animal in the vicinity is found, workers should use tools like shovels to avoid direct contact with the body as much as possible. It is also recommended that workers should wear protective barriers such as medical gloves, two pairs if possible, if handling the animal is needed. Workers should keep away as much as possible from having direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of the dead animal which may still harbor the virus.
West Nile Virus by .
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released some data about the spread of the West Nile virus in the country. According to the data reported to the CDC, there were a total of 37 states in the US as of September 27 that have reported at least one case of human WNV infection.
According to the data, 37 US states have so far been affected by a human case of the West Nile virus. In addition, a total of 42 states have been reported to have cases of non-human as well as human WNV infections. Non-human infections are those cases where WNV infections in mosquitoes, birds and sentinel animals were reported. Other data provided by the CDC also indicated the number of cases of WNV infections for each state that was affected.
Of the numbers provided, the state of California holds the most number of reported WNV infections in humans so far with a total of 67 cases. It was followed by Mississippi with 40 total human WNV infections reported. Arizona came in third with a total of 30 WNV cases reported. There were a total of 26 cases reported in New York. Nebraska came in with 22 WNV cases reported so far, rounding up the top 5 states with the most number of human WNV cases. As of September 27, a total of 362 human WNV cases have been reported, resulting in a total of 18 deaths, according to the same CDC data.
Source: CDC
West Nile Virus by .
The City of Peabody, located in Boston’s North Shore suburb, has experienced flooding this week and closed the Peabody Square and 12 major city streets. This comes after another storm turned the downtown area into a small lake. More than the rising waters, city officials are worried about the spread of mosquitoes in the area. These mosquitoes are recently tested positive for West Nile virus.
Although there have yet to be a case of the dreaded virus in local residents, city and state officials are determined not to let this happen. The Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District has been spraying pesticides downtown, as well as in school athletic fields and buildings in hopes to reduce the mosquito population. The office also advises residents to take precautions and guard themselves against mosquito bites.
Residents are also advised to get updates about the WNV in the area by logging on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website, as well as call them at 866-627-7968. The Peabody Public Health Department can also be contacted at 978-538-5926.
Source: Boston Globe and Patch.com
West Nile Virus by .
According to reports by the Southern Nevada Health Department, seven residents in Clark County have been found to be infected with the West Nile virus. This mosquito-borne virus has been causing seasonal epidemic on many parts of the US these recent years. The West Nile virus is considered a threatening disease, the most severe form of which can cause inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord which can lead to paralysis and even death.
The seven residents who were found to be stricken by the said virus were composed of three males and four females. The victims were found to be 39, 57, 74, 79, 81 and 83 years old. Those who were found to be infected by the West Nile virus are currently undergoing treatment at physical therapy and rehabilitation centers to help them regain back their mobility as strength, according to an official. Their names were withheld to follow Federal privacy laws.
The said West Nile victims were reported by the health care officials in the Las Vegas Valley just last week. The victims of the said disease have been hospitalized and have undergone treatment and are currently undergoing rehabilitation. The current case of West Nile infections may be a cause for concern for health officials. The most serious case of West Nile infections in Clark County in a year was in 2004 when 23 residents were reported to have been infected. The next one came in 2008 where there were 12 residents who were reported to have been stricken by the said virus. The seven recent infections were the most reported so far after not one case was reported last year.
One of the best ways to avoid being infected by the West Nile virus is by avoiding being bitten by mosquitoes. Residents are urged to use effective insect repellents and wear long sleeved shirts and pants to avid getting bitten, especially at dusk or at dawn, the time when the mosquitoes are most active.
Source: Las Vegas Review Journal
West Nile Virus by .
Apart from the West Nile virus, another viral disease could be looming in California after an unusual mosquito makes an appearance in San Gabriel Valley, located within Los Angeles County. An Asian tiger mosquito, which is usually found in tropical regions, was spotted in El Monte during a routine call to vector control. This insect can carry diseases including dengue fever.
Although authorities have yet to confirm whether these mosquitoes are carrying the dengue virus, they are not waiting around to find out as they kicked off eradication efforts. The San Gabriel Mosquito and Vector Control District has been conducting door-to-door inspection and education campaign within a quarter-mile radius from where the Asian tiger mosquito was found.
Also known as breakbone fever, dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the virus of the same name. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash similar to measles. If not treated, there is a chance the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, which results in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets, and blood plasma leakage.
This is not the first time Asian tiger mosquitoes were found in the area. These insects have been around the United States since 1985 and has been frequently found in the Southeast and Hawaii, where several outbreaks of dengue fever have been reported. This is also the first time Asian tiger mosquitoes were found in Southern California since 2001, when they were accidentally introduced in imported “Lucky Bamboo” plants.
Residents of San Gabriel Valley are urged to call vector control at (626) 814-9466 if they spot one of these mosquitoes or get bitten by a mosquito during the day.
Source: LAist
The Miami-Dade County Health Department has confirmed that a 27-year-old local man has become the first human to contract West Nile virus locally this year. The patient first began feeling ill in early-to-mid August. He sought medical treatment and was admitted to a local hospital, where tests showed he was positive for the virus. He had no history of traveling outside the county during the incubation period.
The county health department revealed that the man contracted the disease from a mosquito bite. He has since fully recovered from the disease, according to a health department representative.
The last locally acquired case of West Nile virus was in 2009. Five years before that, two people in the county died from the disease.
West Nile is an illness acquired from mosquito bites. Symptoms of this disease may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, rash, and confusion.
The county’s Mosquito Control Division urges all residents to drain any standing water and cover any containers to prevent the insects from laying their eggs. Residents are also urged to cover their skin with protective clothing, apply mosquito repellent, and protect children younger than two months old with mosquito netting.
Source: Miami Herald
West Nile Virus by .
A total of 25 birds have tested positive for West Nile virus in California’s Contra Costa County in San Francisco Bay Area, with ten birds found with the virus this week alone. The birds, all of them are dead, are collected from the cities of Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Lafayette, and Brentwood.
Further along south, the disease has also been detected in Los Angeles County, where two dead virus-infected birds were found in Hacienda Heights and Winnetka. Meanwhile, samples of infected mosquitoes were collected from Woodland Hills and Pico Rivera.
Detecting the location of dead birds is an important tool in finding hotspots of West Nile virus, even if the bird is not picked up and tested. This also enables government authorities to locate areas where they can concentrate their mosquito control efforts.
The West Nile virus is a potentially fatal disease transmitted through mosquito bites. It has affected several locations in United States, including California and Florida.
Californa residents are urged to report dead birds to the West Nile Virus state hotline at (877) 968-2473 or online at www.westnile.ca.gov.
Source: Los Angeles Times
West Nile Virus by .
A public health office in Canada‘s Saskatchewan Province reported what appears to be the first human cases of West Nile virus in the country this year. Representatives from the Sun Country Health Region say that two people in southeastern Saskatchewan suffered mild forms of the disease and are now recovering.
Apart from these two cases, the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate that there have been no human cases of West Nile in the whole country for 2010. Meanwhile, local health officials had warned residents to take extra precautions against the dreaded disease, especially with the wet weather that is sweeping across the southern half of the province, which contributes to a rising number of virus-carrying mosquitoes. The office added that in spite of higher numbers of mosquitoes, the risk has been lower and do not expect to see a lot of people getting infected from the West Nile virus.
Source: CTV
West Nile Virus by .
City health officials at Newton, Massachusetts reported of detecting the West Nile virus in mosquitoes collected in the area. Tests conducted by the Newton Department of Health and Human Services on mosquitoes trapped on the north side of the city came back positive for the West Nile virus.
Officials said in a release that this is the first incidence reported for this year. Such West Nile virus carrying mosquitoes have also been detected in nearby Brookline, Boston, Waltham and Cambridge. Despite the concern, no human cases of West Nile virus has yet been reported according to officials.
According to John McNally, the city’s senior environmental health specialist, “We know West Nile Virus is endemic in this part of Massachusetts, and finding West Nile Virus in mosquitoes is something we expect to see this time of year. It’s important for people to keep themselves healthy by taking precautions like using mosquito repellent and limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn.”
Those who are considered at high risk for West Nile Virus disease are people over the age of 50 years old. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, headaches, muscle weakness , tremors and disorientation. If not addressed, the disease can lead to paralysis, coma and even death.
Addressing potential problems caused by the West Nile virus in the city include limiting mosquito development by treating catch basins in the area as well as continuous trapping and testing the insects. It can go as far as conducting aerial and truck spraying to control the mosquitoes although it is not required at the current situation according to the said release. For the meantime, residents are urged to limit exposure to mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves, using mosquito repellent, avoiding going outdoors during the evening or early morning and draining standing water around their properties to prevent becoming possible mosquito breeding areas.
Source: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2010/08/west_nile_virus_confirmed_in_n.html
West Nile Virus by .