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West Nile Virus Spreads - Part Two

© Adelle Vancil Tilton

A CDC Epidemiologist spoke to reporters recently in a conference and had some comments regarding the spread of West Nile. "We had anticipated that we would see the virus move into different areas particularly as birds migrated to different parts of the United States. There is nothing to prohibit the virus from spreading into the Midwest either in birds or mosquitoes." When other factors such as weather are entered in, which affect the migratory patterns of these birds, this becomes a situation that could be impossible to predict. This has begun to prove itself as most of the states on the East Coast have reported either infection of people or infection found in dead birds. New Jersey and Maryland have the highest numbers of infected birds for the first half of this year. Georgia has reported infected birds and now Ohio has reported an infected bird, a blue jay, in July of this year. Colorado is also testing dead birds for the virus. So far they have found none. However, John Pape, an epidemiologist with Colorado's Health Department says, "There's nobody in this business who sees why West Nile virus can't or won't spread nationwide. The question is how fast."

In this alarming group of facts and issues, there can be some comfort found in a few of the basic questions that most people are asking about this disease. West Nile is a serious problem but armed with some information and protection, people can fight this emerging disease.

• Most people, in fact 99% of people according to the CDC bit by a mosquito in the areas where West Nile is known to exist will never come in contact with the disease.
• The people who do contract West Nile deal with nothing more than a mild "summer flu" syndrome. The risk is to the very young, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
• If West Nile is detected early, the risks for developing the life threatening problems of encephalitis and/or meningitis drop dramatically as treatment in the early stages is important. Therefore if you live in an area that is known to have West Nile in the bird and mosquito population and you become ill, see your physician.
• Remember that the highest risk of this disease is in the summer and early fall when mosquitos are most active. Dusk and early evening are the worst times of day in terms of exposure. At 55 degrees Farenheit mosquitos become dormant which does give a reprieve to much of the country, although not all and states such as Florida remain a risk.

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