Thread: West Nile Virus outbreak most severe in the nation

West Nile virus spreading and killing
August 9, 2002 Posted: 11:00 PM EDT (0300 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/08/09...ile/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two more people have died from the West Nile virus in Louisiana, and the virus has been detected in animals in two more states, Vermont and Kansas, health officials said Friday.
So far, seven people -- all in Louisiana -- have died this year from West Nile.

The total number of states where the virus has been found in animals -- horses, birds or mosquitoes -- is now 36, while humans have contracted the virus in six states and the District of Columbia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a total of 136 human infection cases: Louisiana (85), Mississippi (34), Texas (12), Illinois (2), Alabama (1), Indiana (1) and the District of Columbia (1).

The latest victims in Louisiana were a 76-year-old woman in St. Tammany Parish who died August 2 and a 94-year-old woman in Tangipahoa Parish who died August 4, said Dr. Erin Brewer, regional medical director for the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

She said another 85 people in the state have been sickened by the virus, 59 of them with the most serious symptoms: encephalitis or meningitis or both. They are potentially fatal swellings of the brain or of the membranes that cover it. Both conditions can be fatal. Nine of the 59 are hospitalized in intensive care units.

In Indiana, a 46-year-old woman who was hospitalized for four days with flu-like symptoms turned out to be infected with West Nile virus, said Dr. William Dannacher, the health officer for Wabash County. She has since recovered and been discharged, he said.

The positive result, which was confirmed Friday by the CDC, was not surprising, he said. "Twenty-some counties in the state have had birds tested positive for West Nile. There's no question that it's around."

CDC officials said an infected horse had been discovered in Kansas, and the Vermont Department of Health reported an infected bird found there.

At highest risk for becoming infected with the mosquito-borne virus are the elderly, those with compromised immune systems and young children.

Most infections are mild, and symptoms, which don't always appear, include fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with skin rashes. A more severe infection may be marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness and disorientation.

Dr. Lyle Petersen, a West Nile virus expert for the CDC, said the virus causes severe symptoms in one of every 150 people infected.

Most people get either no symptoms, or milder expressions of the disease.

The CDC recommends that people reduce the risk of being bitten and becoming infected by staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening; wearing loose long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever they are outdoors; and using insect repellent that contains the chemical DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) -- 20 percent to 30 percent DEET for adults, under 10 percent for children.

The CDC also urges people to get rid of all outdoor standing water, where mosquitoes can breed.

The CDC is also looking into the theory that the hot, dry weather may be a factor in the rise in West Nile activity because it affects mosquito breeding areas. Mosquitos breed in small, dense pools of water. In extremely hot weather, large pools of water get smaller and more dense.



West Nile Virus : What it is and what to do. If you have questions about the mosquito-borne virus that's crossing the country, WebMD has the answers - all in one place.


Protecting Kids From West Nile

Mosquito-borne illnesses can be a worry, but most of them are much more of a concern for the geriatric population. Still, protection is in order.

By Steven Parker , MD


Question:
What risk does the West Nile virus pose to small children (4 and 1 in particular) and is there a good, safe mosquito repellent you could recommend for them for everyday use?

Answer:
Mosquito-borne illnesses can be a worry, but most of them are much more of a concern for the geriatric population and seem to be much less of a threat to infants and kids.

Still, it makes sense to try to prevent mosquito bites when a child might be getting them. Generally, repellants with DEET work the best, and there is some debate about how young one should use it. When I last researched it, there was no real evidence that DEET could hurt children, there's always a worry that some could be absorbed in a small baby and lead to trouble.

So the best protection in young children is prevention with long sleeve and pants, when possible, and small amounts of insect repellant only those open areas, to cut down on exposure.

We'll see what the CDC says this summer about the particular viruses floating around and in what regions the risk seems to be.


Steven Parker, MD, is director of behavioral and developmental pediatrics at Boston Medical Center and an associate professor of pediatrics at the Boston University School of Medicine.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3609.1072
Originally published April 8, 2002.

This week there were two cases reported in Illinois in 2 days. A 22-year old college student in Chicago, and a 57 year old man in Collinsville (that's 20 minutes from me) He's actually been IN the hospital nearly a month, with 2 weeks of that in intensive care. They did say the man had other health issues, but as far as I've heard, the 22-year old was perfectly healthy.

Went to my sister-in-law's after we went to dinner tonight. They live on 5 acres out in the country, partly wooded. Beautiful backyard where you can watch the birds and rabbits and the deer in the evenings. NO ONE would sit outside this evening. So I sat out on their deck all by myself while they sat inside watching the baseball game. (Skeeters don't bite me, haven't had a skeeter bite since I was a kid)

Its been killing horses here no people as yet

now we got skeeters transmitting:

Eastern Equine Encephalitis

LaCrosse Encephalitis

West Nile Encephalitis

Western Equine Encephalitis

Kinda makes you want to stay indoors

They have found some dead birds here too. This is so scary to me.

At highest risk for becoming infected with the mosquito-borne virus are the elderly, those with compromised immune systems and young children.

Most infections are mild, and symptoms, which don't always appear, include fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with skin rashes. A more severe infection may be marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness and disorientation.

Dr. Lyle Petersen, a West Nile virus expert for the CDC, said the virus causes severe symptoms in one of every 150 people infected.

Most people get either no symptoms, or milder expressions of the disease.

Kinda makes you want to stay indoors

Never. Never ever. Not me!

Let's not panic. Years ago it was mosquitos and 'sleeping sickness' - remember that (encephalitis?) If you WANT to spend time outside, do so. Just be smart. Use repellent and keep your yard area clear of standing water, leaves in the gutters, etc. IF you're prone to attract the varmits, avoid being outside during prime mosquito-feeding times, dawn and dusk. DEET is the best. And I know they don't advise using it on small children, but I did always, when my kids were small, before they decided we shouldn't (no serious effects whatsoever) Even Avon's Skin-So-Soft is an effective insect repellent.

Enjoy your summer the way you always do. Just be smart about it.