West Nile Virus

Symptoms of West Nile Virus

symptoms of a mild infection: fever, headache, bodyaches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands symptoms of a severe infection may be marked by: high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and coma Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about your health. If severe symptoms develop, see your doctor immediately. The incubation period for West Nile Virus is generally 2-14 days following a bite from an infected mosquito.

For the last 20 years, illness has been observed in Kazakhstan and the republics of Central Asia, Astrakhan region (in Russia), Ukraine, and Azerbaijan (1). High risk for exposure to West Nile virus has been observed in the desert territories of the Volga basin, especially in the river valleys, where an outbreak occurred in 1999. the high death rates and a wide range of infected populations are unusual and probably result from factors such as high temperature, extended breeding places of mosquitoes, migration of some groups of populations, and perhaps change in the virus genotype.

Wisconsin had 52 human cases of WNV infection , WNV was first found in Wisconsin in infected wild birds in 2001.West Nile virus (WNV), which has been widespread in Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East and western Asia, first appeared in the New York City area of the United States in 1999. The disease spread west quickly. West Nile Virus -- Surveillance

Currently, WNV has been identified in the following states in 2002:

Alabama (birds) Connecticut (bird) Florida (birds, horses, sentinel chick) Georgia (birds) Illinois (birds) Kentucky (birds, horse) Louisiana (bird and horses) Maryland (bird) Massachusetts (bird) Michigan (birds) New Jersey (birds, mos. pools) New York (birds) North Carolina (bird) Ohio (birds, mos .pools) Ontario, Canada (birds) Pennsylvania (6 birds) Rhode Island (bird) Staten Island, NY City (first bird) Tennessee (birds) Texas (birds, mos. pools, horse) Virginia (birds) Washington, DC (bird)

MOSQUITO CONTROL:

DEP has scheduled mosquito adulticiding operations for the Meadville area on Tuesday night, July 9.Truck-mounted and hand-held sprayers will be used. Approximately 15 street miles will be covered.

DEP has also scheduled mosquito adulticiding operations for Luzerne County on Wednesday, July 10.Ten acres of an area with heavy vegetation in Duryea Borough will be treated using ground spraying methods in an attempt to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes there.What about the rest of the world?

Human cases in US (Dec 2002): As of Dec 19, 2002 CDC reports 3,852 human cases (232 fatalities) from 39 states and Washington DC (as compared with 149 human cases accounted by CDC 1999-2001).

Well,are you going to wait till it knocks on your doorstep ?

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