Friday August 31, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- As of August 28, the
United States has confirmed 741 human cases of mosquito-borne
West Nile virus infection nationwide, according to U.S. Geological Survey which keeps monitoring the virus activity in individual states.
Among the total of West Nile cases, 147 were reported from
California where the state has already reported 172 cases on its website at www.westnile.ca.gov
, making the state one of the states hit hardest by the virus this year. The level of the virus activity in mosquitoes has so far exceeded that for the last year, 673 positive mosquito samples in 2007 versus 575 in 2006.
So far, human cases of West Nile have been reported in states including
Alabama,
Arizona,
Arkansas,
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Florida,
Georgia,
Idaho,
Illinois,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Maryland,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
Montana,
Nebraska,
Nevada,
New Mexico,
North Dakota,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania,
South Dakota,
Texas,
Utah,
Virginia, and
Wyoming.
This year, West Nile virus activity has been found in birds, mosquitoes or other animals collected from the states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
West Nile virus infection is caused by bites of an infected mosquito.
Eighty percent of people who are infected do not show any symptoms. But about 20 percent experience symptoms including fever, headache and body aches.
In serious cases, the virus results in encephalitis and meningitis and even death.
People who are older than 50 years of age and those whose immune systems are compromised are at the highest risk of severe implications by the
West Nile virus.
These people should use protection to avoid mosquito bites.
To avoid mosquitoes, the Illinois Department of Public Health suggests the following:
Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. Use prevention methods whenever mosquitoes are present.
When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles. In communities where there are organized mosquito control programs, contact your municipal government to report areas of stagnant water in roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes.
For more information, please visit
www.http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov
