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West Nile Presentation

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West Nile Presentation
Comm110
9/27/2012

West Nile Presentation

As of Wednesday September 12th 2012 the CDC reported the worst outbreak of West Nile virus ever to hit the United States. The current total of 2,636 cases is still growing. Of those reported cases there have been 118 deaths. These are the highest totals since it was first detected in the United States in 1999. It was first identified in Uganda in eastern Africa in 1937. Nearly all fifty states have reported cases, but the majority (2/3) was reported in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, South Dakota, Michigan, and Oklahoma. Texas has by far been the hardest hit, accounting for 40% of the total. As of September 09,2012 in Texas there were 1219 reported cases, and 57 deaths. Vermont, Alaska, and Hawaii are the only states with no reported cases. These numbers are expected to grow until sometime in October. Past records show that late august is usually the peak for the season. So at this time the worst is behind us.

Those most at risk to developing a severe form of the virus are:
• Those with weakened immune systems (transplant or chemo patients, people with HIV)
• Pregnant women
• If over 50 years of age, you are in a higher risk group.
• Adults with health issues such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
• Very young children

Of the people infected, about 80% show few or no symptoms.
Some 20% develop minor symptoms like:
• headaches
• abdominal pain
• sore throat
• diarrhea
• lack of appetite
• fever
• joint/muscle pains
• nausea
• vomiting
• swollen lymph nodes
• skin rash
Minor symptoms typically last three to six days.
One person out of every 150 infected people will suffer more serious “neuro-invasive” diseases. These can include meningitis or encephalitis. Experts say that 56% of the reported cases have been neuro-invasive. The virus is a type called a flavivirus (a genus of viruses that cause disease in humans and anaimals). More severe symptoms of the virus (which should receive immediate medical attention) are:
• Confusion or inability to think clearly,
• Stupor, unconscious or coma
• Tremors or Convulsions
• Vision Loss
• Muscle weakness
• Weakness in a single arm or leg
Severe symptoms can last several weeks. The neurological effects can be permanent. The more severe symptoms can lead to brain damage and death. Patients with brain inflammation have about a 10% survival rate.
People typically show symptoms within 3-14 days after they have been infected. The west Nile virus has no treatments or vaccines to prevent it.
How is the virus spread? The most common way the virus is spread is through a mosquito’s bite. Mosquitoes themselves are infected by biting infected birds. Once the mosquito is infected in this way, it can transfer it to humans or other animals that it may bite. There have been cases in which the infection has been transferred to other humans through blood transfusions or organ transplants. There have been cases in which the virus has been transferred from pregnant mothers to their unborn child. Infected mothers can even pass it too their breastfeeding children.
Preventions and protection are few. Most are common sense. They include:
• Wearing insect repellant containing deet,
• Avoid the outdoors at dusk and dawn.
• Wear long sleeves/pants or protective clothing when outdoors,
• Do not leave water standing in open containers (flower pots, buckets, etc.),
• Repair broken windows or screens,
• Use air conditioning when possible,
• Repair failed septic systems,
• Keep grass short and shrubbery trimmed,
• Clean clogged gutters,
• Frequently replace water in pet bowls.

As a citizen you can help by reporting dead birds to local authorities or even sponsor/support neighborhood clean up days/programs. Another suggestion is to have or support local programs to destroy mosquitoes and eradicate their eggs. Mosquito control professionals and State Department Environmental Protection agencies use Bti (naturally occurring bacteria) to destroy larvae.
Indiana health officials have identified at least 10 cases of the virus statewide. As of September 6th this year, Indiana has reported three deaths. Of the three, two were in Marion County.

References:

Indiana has 10 cases of west nile virus, examiner.com, by: Teresa Tanoos, http://www.examiner.com/article/indiana-has-10-cases-of-west-nile-virus
CDC, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm
Texas Department of State Health Services, West Nile Virus in Texas, http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westnile/
CBS News, Healthpop, CDC: 2636 cases of West Nile virus so far in record 1012, September 12, 2012, By Michelle Castillo, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57511362-10391704/cdc-2636-cases-of-west-nile-virus-so-far-in-record-2012/
Examiner.com, Indiana reports 3rd death from West Nile virus, By: Teresa Tanoos, http://www.examiner.com/article/indiana-reports-3rd-death-from-west-nile-virus

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