U.S. health bitten hard by West Nile bug

The West Nile virus has begun to show its impact in U.S. and Canada, as reported by various state health officials. The first human cases of infection have been detected in Ontario, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama and Montana.

According to health officials, Georgia is on track to have its worst West Nile virus season in years. The state has witnessed three human cases infected with the virus. The victims hail from DeKalb county, Gwinett county, and Johnson county. The first case to be detected was from DeKalb County.

According to S. Elizabeth Ford, health director of the DeKalb County Board of Health, ” The chances of a person contracting West Nile virus are very low, and most people infected with the virus will not have any symptoms. However, since this is the first human case of the year in DeKalb County, and we are at the height of the mosquito season, we encourage residents to educate themselves about symptoms and to take precautions to protect themselves from the virus."

In Indiana, two cases have been reported at Lake county and Randolph county. According to State Health Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe, “West Nile virus is potentially a very serious disease. We have seen cases where healthy, active individuals who become infected with the virus (are) left devastated by the disease, including being unable to walk without assistance.

Indiana State had seen 80 cases of the virus last year, with 5 resulting in deaths.

Cascade County, Montana, witnessed three cases of infection involving patients aged 31-46. On the whole, 23 cases have been reported in 12 counties of Montana, according to Gayle Shirley, spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Roosevelt and Valley counties in northeastern Montana have reported the maximum number of instances.

According to State Health Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe, people should be encouraged to get rid of areas that can collect standing water, which mosquitoes use for their eggs. She suggests cleaning out clogged gutters, getting rid of empty containers outside and keeping grass cut short. When outside, people should remember to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and put on insect repellent, according to the release.

Three human cases of infections with mosquito-borne viruses were reported in Alabama between June 26 and July 31, epidemiologist Dr. J.P. Lofgren said in an Alabama Department of Public Health news release. The infected people hail from Chambers, Marshall and Mobile counties.

Two residents of Muscogee County, Georgia were also tested positive for the virus. The Southern house mosquito has been responsible for spread of the virus. The species has been proliferating because of the drought. The mosquito breeds readily in stagnant water in storm drains, ponds and bird baths.

Cases have been detected in Los Angeles as well. The county board of supervisors in Los Angeles has directed county officials to clean vulnerable areas such as mosquito infested waterways in San Fernando Valley and Pacoima Wash in Panorama City. Vegetation will also be removed from the Woodley Drain at Woodley Avenue and Victory Boulevard, the Limekiln Debris Basin on Tampa Avenue in Chatsworth and the Bell Debris Basin at Valley Circle Boulevard and Vanowen Street.

Another virus pool has been confirmed in Kane County, Illinois. "The warm weather and summer rains make the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes," said Paul Kuehnert, executive director of the Health Department., Kane County.
A West Nile related death has been reported in Fresno County, California.

Emergency spraying has been carried out in Adams County to ward off the mosquitoes. Emergency spraying strategies are also underway in Chicago, Illinois. A two-day campaign was undertaken in the city to kill the virus carrying mosquitoes.

The mosquito population has been on a rise due to the recent rains in swampy areas. Culex pipiens, the species of mosquitoes which carries the deadly virus has been found in several locations in Chicago.

In Canada, around 170 cases of humans affected by the virus have been found across the country, as reported by a Health Canada official. Ontario’s first human case of the virus has been found in Windsor. According to Dr. Allen Heimann, medical officer of health for Windsor and Essex County, a 41-year-old woman contracted the virus. Around 106 cases have also been found in Manitoba, where two people have already died due to infection.

The West Nile virus belongs to the family Flaviviridae; part of the Japanese encephalitis (JE) antigenic complex of viruses, and is found in both tropical and temperate regions. It mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits.

Human Infection occurs due to the bite of a virus carrying mosquito. Most cases of the virus are detected in August and September as the hot, dry conditions facilitate breeding of the virus carrying mosquitoes.

The virus may affect humans in an asymptomatic way. Alternately, it may induce West Nile Fever- a mild febrile condition in the infected victim. It may also lead to West Nile meningitis or encephalitis, both being neuroinvasive disorders.

The West Nile fever is accompanied with fever, headache, chills, weakness, drowsiness, rashes, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The encephalitis is accompanied with a decreased level of consciousness, which sometimes even approaches coma. Symptoms usually appear three to fifteen days after infection.