Officials declare W.Nile endemic in California State
by Poonam Wadhwani - July 11, 2007 - 0 comments
Mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile virus have apparently returned in large numbers in the California State. This mosquito-borne virus, which usually peaks in July and August, has already entrapped several counties in the state.
In the state this year, West Nile virus is off to an early start, with reports of several cases of the mosquito-borne disease in 26 counties, prompting state health officials to call on the public to pull up the socks in order to quash the potentially deadly effects of the virus.
So far, Kern County, located in the southern Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, leads in the number of cases reported of the West Nile virus, with three people having fallen ill and 41 dead birds having tested positive for the virus.
California State, last week, had reported sixty new cases of dead birds positively affected with the virus.
"The hot spells we are having now are definitely good for the virus," said Stan Husted, a supervising public health biologist with the California Department of Public Health. "What we want is to have fewer cases than last year, not more," Husted said in the Times report.
According to a Los Angeles Times report, state health officials have declared the West Nile-endemic in California, and lost all hopes of eradicating it.
In 2004, the peak levels of W.Nile virus were witnessed in California when its existence was reported in all 58 counties, affecting at least 779 people and killing 28.
Considering the different parts of United States, the mosquito-borne virus is transforming its reach to a higher order, probably indicating another epidemic in the coming years. The virus is spreading across the United States like fire, as determined from surveillance of infected birds by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Besides Californian counties, several other states counties also have reported extremely high populations of Culex mosquitoes, the type that spread the disease.
Earlier this month, Pennsylvania state officials confirmed the existence of West Nile virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, in a town near Altoona.
Since the initial 1999 New York City outbreak, the cases of West Nile Virus have been relatively limited. In 2002, there were a total of 480 reported cases in humans and 24 deaths (as of August 28, 2002). The virus spread to Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Cases are also being seen in the Dakotas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, states along the east coast.
The death count after 2002 was significantly controlled, until last year it accelerated and portrayed a dreadful image of future. According to figures released by The Times, the virus had claimed seven human lives in 2006.
West Nile is usually transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, which contract the virus from infected birds. When they feast on blood, they can pump this potentially-fatal virus into a vein and can thus pass it to humans, horses and, in a few cases, dogs.
About 80 per cent of people won't show any symptoms or know they have contracted the disease, while the other 20 per cent show only mild symptoms, which include headaches, fever, vomiting and a rash on the stomach, back or chest. More severe symptoms include dizziness and disorientation. The severest form of the virus can cause encephalitis and meningitis. Less than one per cent of people, infected with the mosquito-borne virus will suffer serious long-term neurological effects, or die.
Mosquitoes, as well as the virus, grow faster in warmer temperatures. By wearing long sleeves shirts and pants and spraying their clothing with repellent that contains the chemical DEET or picaridin, individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites. The repellents are important in the early morning and evening hours when mosquito activity is at its highest.
Currently, there is no cure, no medications, no specific treatments and no human vaccine. Prevention is the best cure from this subtle virus, caused by the innocuous looking mosquito.
by Poonam Wadhwani - July 11, 2007 - 0 comments
Mosquitoes that can carry the West Nile virus have apparently returned in large numbers in the California State. This mosquito-borne virus, which usually peaks in July and August, has already entrapped several counties in the state.
In the state this year, West Nile virus is off to an early start, with reports of several cases of the mosquito-borne disease in 26 counties, prompting state health officials to call on the public to pull up the socks in order to quash the potentially deadly effects of the virus.
So far, Kern County, located in the southern Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, leads in the number of cases reported of the West Nile virus, with three people having fallen ill and 41 dead birds having tested positive for the virus.
California State, last week, had reported sixty new cases of dead birds positively affected with the virus.
"The hot spells we are having now are definitely good for the virus," said Stan Husted, a supervising public health biologist with the California Department of Public Health. "What we want is to have fewer cases than last year, not more," Husted said in the Times report.
According to a Los Angeles Times report, state health officials have declared the West Nile-endemic in California, and lost all hopes of eradicating it.
In 2004, the peak levels of W.Nile virus were witnessed in California when its existence was reported in all 58 counties, affecting at least 779 people and killing 28.
Considering the different parts of United States, the mosquito-borne virus is transforming its reach to a higher order, probably indicating another epidemic in the coming years. The virus is spreading across the United States like fire, as determined from surveillance of infected birds by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Besides Californian counties, several other states counties also have reported extremely high populations of Culex mosquitoes, the type that spread the disease.
Earlier this month, Pennsylvania state officials confirmed the existence of West Nile virus, which is carried by mosquitoes, in a town near Altoona.
Since the initial 1999 New York City outbreak, the cases of West Nile Virus have been relatively limited. In 2002, there were a total of 480 reported cases in humans and 24 deaths (as of August 28, 2002). The virus spread to Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Cases are also being seen in the Dakotas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, states along the east coast.
The death count after 2002 was significantly controlled, until last year it accelerated and portrayed a dreadful image of future. According to figures released by The Times, the virus had claimed seven human lives in 2006.
West Nile is usually transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, which contract the virus from infected birds. When they feast on blood, they can pump this potentially-fatal virus into a vein and can thus pass it to humans, horses and, in a few cases, dogs.
About 80 per cent of people won't show any symptoms or know they have contracted the disease, while the other 20 per cent show only mild symptoms, which include headaches, fever, vomiting and a rash on the stomach, back or chest. More severe symptoms include dizziness and disorientation. The severest form of the virus can cause encephalitis and meningitis. Less than one per cent of people, infected with the mosquito-borne virus will suffer serious long-term neurological effects, or die.
Mosquitoes, as well as the virus, grow faster in warmer temperatures. By wearing long sleeves shirts and pants and spraying their clothing with repellent that contains the chemical DEET or picaridin, individuals can protect themselves from mosquito bites. The repellents are important in the early morning and evening hours when mosquito activity is at its highest.
Currently, there is no cure, no medications, no specific treatments and no human vaccine. Prevention is the best cure from this subtle virus, caused by the innocuous looking mosquito.
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