West Nile virus spreads faster

[billym]

West Nile virus spreads faster


West Nile virus is spreading faster than it has in years, and the pace of the mosquito-borne disease is getting worse, health officials report.


Northwestern Mosquito Abatement District via AP
A Culex pipiens, left, is the primary mosquito that can transmit West Nile virus to humans. The Aedes vexans is primarily a nuisance mosquito.
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Northwestern Mosquito Abatement District via AP
A Culex pipiens, left, is the primary mosquito that can transmit West Nile virus to humans. The Aedes vexans is primarily a nuisance mosquito.
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States are reporting more cases than usual, says Marc Fischer, a specialist in mosquito-borne diseases with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort Collins, Colo. "There's been a lot of mosquito activity in most states" this year, Fischer says.
Texas is getting the worst of it.
Sixteen people have died of West Nile virus this summer in Texas. That's out of 381 cases of the illness. "We're on track to have the worst year ever," says Christine Mann, spokeswoman for the Department of State Health Services in Austin.
Nationwide there have been at least 693 cases and 28 deaths, according to the CDC and state numbers released Tuesday. That's up from 390 cases and eight deaths last week.
A mild winter and ample spring rains allowed the mosquito population to build up early. Heat and scant rainfall are creating stagnant water pools, which make great breeding grounds, says Michael Merchant, an entomologist at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Dallas.
More on West Nile virus

STORY: West Nile virus spreads faster
STORY: Dallas County allows aerial spraying for West Nile virus
STORY: Hot, dry weather heightens West Nile virus risk
Thirty-two states have had cases of West Nile, the CDC says.

[IamPJ]

This is in our local news here. We have several batches of mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile in our area recently. The news said this is going to be one of the worst years for it due to the hot dry weather. I thought the hot wet weather increased the chances.

[billym]

Throughout the past three weeks, the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District has seen 90 percent of the mosquito samples its collected test positive for West Nile Virus.

Spraying Continues In Effort To Contain West Nile Virus « CBS Chicago


Dallas declares emergency

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...87E0ZO20120815

[billym]

I live in Louisiana and a guy that lived on the other end of the street got West Nile a few years ago and died in 30 days. I know how serious this can be. Let's pray that this does not become as severe as they are saying.

[Icguy]

For all those living just a tad south of me.

[FaithInChrist]

It's the major news story on every channel here. They have started arial spraying in Dallas where the worst and most of the cases have been. It will be nice when winter gets here and these mosquitos are all killed off and the threat is gone, at least until next summer.