West Nile virus spreading rapidly, officials warn
By LUKE SHOCKMAN
Toledo Blade
November 20, 2000- Mosquitoes are the last thing on most people's minds now
that the cold weather has zapped most of the pesky insects.But those who
fight mosquitoes and the diseases they carry will spend this winter worrying
about the potential spread next year of West Nile virus, the mosquito-borne
disease.The disease is an infection of the brain that can be transmitted to
humans by mosquitoes that have bitten infected birds. Most people who become
infected with West Nile virus will either never get sick or develop flu-like
symptoms. But the disease can be deadly for those with weakened immune
systems and the elderly.The West Nile virus appeared in the United States for
the first time in 1999, killing seven people and infecting 55, all in New
York. This year, 18 people were infected in New York and New Jersey, and one
New Jersey man died from the disease. New York health officials have been
scrambling to try to contr! ol mosquitoes, and President Clinton this month
declared an emergency in New Jersey, which freed $5 million in federal funds
to help the state in its mosquito-control efforts.The disease is spreading,
and it's spreading fast, according to health experts. Every county in New
York has infected birds now, and mosquito-control experts say it's only a
matter of time before infected birds fly to Ohio and southern Michigan."It's
so close we feel it will reach Ohio next year, maybe not in human cases but
in the wild-bird population," said Dr. Richard Berry, chief of the vector
borne disease program for Ohio.Dr. Mary Grace Stobierski, chief of
epidemiology for the Michigan Department of Community Health, said Michigan
is likewise expanding its surveillance network and lab facilities so it can
better test for West Nile virus.Scientists had thought, and hoped, that West
Nile virus would stick mainly to only a few mosquito and bird species."! One
surprising concern is that we thought there were one or two mosquito species
thought to be the vector (carrier). But now they're finding it in a dozen
different species. That's not good news, because the more different kinds of
mosquitoes, the greater chance it would get into the human population," said
Lee Mitchell, a biologist with the Toledo Area Sanitary District.Those dozen
different mosquito species now known to be capable of carrying West Nile
virus were all found in New York.For most Americans, worrying about West Nile
virus probably will become a part of life as the disease spreads across the
entire country."We've been spoiled, because we've not had to worry much about
mosquito-borne disease, and that's going to change with the West Nile virus,"
Mitchell said.Berry said areas that don't have mosquito-control programs will
have to consider implementing them, particularly if the virus spreads
westward. Many communi! ties won't be able to afford creating a
mosquito-control program of their own, Berry said, so "it's inevitable" that
the state will have to get involved and begin kicking in some money to help
out.Scientists formerly thought that crows were the most common carriers, but
it's now known the virus can infect at least 63 different bird species.Health
experts say the virus probably can't be transmitted directly from birds to
humans. However, those who come across a dead bird should not handle it with
their bare hands.Some of the mosquito species that carry West Nile virus
don't bite humans that much. But the Asian Tiger mosquito, which can carry
West Nile virus, loves to feast on people and is almost impossible to
eradicate once it becomes established in an area.
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