| West Nile virus is a strain of encephalitis similar to | | | | this disease across country is attributed to wild and |
| Saint Louis encephalitis, which reached epidemic | | | | domestic birds. They are the most common |
| proportions in the 1950's and 60's. West Nile virus, like | | | | vertebrae host for the disease thus making it |
| encephalitis, is transmitted by mosquitos. There are | | | | extremely mobile. Crows, blue jays, pigeons, chickens, |
| several species of mosquitos that have been | | | | and hawks are among those carriers of the virus |
| identified as vectors for West Nile, and more species | | | | which once bitten and infected, cross state lines and |
| are constantly being identified. One of the most | | | | are bitten by a local mosquito which in turn bites a |
| common species, Culex pipiens or house mosquito, is | | | | local bird etc. The point is, movement is rapid and |
| a carrier as is the Tiger mosquito. These two species | | | | quarantine is next to impossible. |
| are common in and around residential areas which | | | | In an attempt to put a stop to the virus in the early |
| makes the disease that much more dangerous. | | | | stages resulted in mass fogging in New York City in |
| West Nile virus was first isolated in 1937 in a | | | | 1999. It did little to stop the spread of the virus but |
| woman's blood in the West Nile province of Uganda. | | | | caused an uproar among the human population. |
| Since then there have been outbreaks of epidemic | | | | These treatments were done with the blessing of |
| proportions in Israel in the 50's, France in the 60's, | | | | both the E.P.A. as well as the C.D.C. From what |
| thousands of cases in South Africa in the 70's, and | | | | information I have pieced together about 70% of |
| found in New York City in 1999. As of December | | | | the population was in favor of the treatment and |
| 2002 there are 3,775 reported cases in the United | | | | thirty adamantly opposed. Those in opposition were |
| States.It is not known how West Nile arrived in New | | | | substantially more verbal. New York City was sued |
| York, but speculation ranges from an increase of | | | | by a variety of environmental groups claiming the city |
| human world travel to terrorist attempts at biological | | | | was illegally spraying pesticides and contaminating |
| warfare. These speculations were prior to 9/11 and | | | | water. ( I can only assume these groups never |
| the anthrax threats. We still do not know how West | | | | bothered to actually look at the Hudson River or |
| Nile arrived but the latter is a more viable possibility | | | | other water bodies in the city.) As of December 3, |
| then it was in 1999. | | | | 2002, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit and ruled |
| 2002 brought 216 fatalities throughout the United | | | | in favor of the New York City.Horses are also |
| States and 3,775 reported cases. The fatalities were | | | | affected by the disease. As of June 2002 there is an |
| nearly all elderly. Most people who become infected | | | | effective vaccination for horses. There is also an |
| with the virus will have either no symptoms or mild | | | | approved larvicide that can be used in horse troughs. |
| ones, which indicates reported case numbers are | | | | The larvicide is called Pre-Strike and is Altosid in a |
| much lower than actual cases. Most people who are | | | | granular form. The vaccination is expensive and has |
| infected with the virus will not have any type of | | | | to be applied by a veterinarian.What can be done for |
| illness. It is estimated that 20% of the people who | | | | people? The states and counties that do not have a |
| become infected will develop fever: mild symptoms, | | | | mosquito commission are rapidly getting one. |
| including fever, headache, and body aches, | | | | Surveillance will increase. Mosquito control will become |
| occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the | | | | more prevalent especially with an increase of |
| body and swollen lymph glands.The symptoms of | | | | larviciding. The C.D.C. recommends that you try to |
| severe infection include headache, high fever, neck | | | | avoid getting bit by avoiding heavily infested areas, |
| stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, | | | | using a repellent when you go outside, staying inside |
| convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. It is | | | | at peak mosquito times (dawn and dusk) and most |
| estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with this | | | | importantly limit the number of places available for |
| virus will develop a more severe form of disease. | | | | mosquitoes to lay their eggs by eliminating standing |
| (From the C.D.C. website)The speed of the spread of | | | | water sources. |