Nearly 3,000 ill with West Nile virus

[dArKeR]

The number of West Nile infections this year is nearly double the amount from this time last year, but fewer people have died


 SO FAR THIS year, 2,923 people have been infected with the virus and 54 have died. Last year at this time, there were 1,641 human cases and 72 deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
       “We are still experiencing the upside of the epidemic curve,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC director.
       Late August through September is considered the peak season for the virus, which is spread by mosquitoes. By the end of 2002, 4,156 people were infected and 284 died in the largest West Nile outbreak in the Western Hemisphere.

       Gerberding said the higher number of infections this year may be the result of improved testing methods and earlier testing. She did not explain the lower death rate, but health officials have said this year’s reported cases tend to be less severe, in part because people with milder symptoms are more likely to be tested.
       Colorado has been the hardest hit this summer, with 973 human cases. Thirteen of the country’s deaths were in Colorado, followed by 10 in Nebraska.

http://msnbc.com/news/965357.asp?0cv=CB10

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Colorado just finished eradicating the larva of the infected mosquito

for the summer. No deaths in my county, but there was one very close to us -- Arapahoe County, about 5 miles from us.

We're wearing Deet like there's no tomorrow.

Hawkeye-X

[colorado_ufo]

2. Colorado's Western Slope

has been hit this year, too. Reports say that the Western Slope will be clobbered by the virus in 2004.

[BansheeBarbie]

3. Spraying

Here where I live, they sprayed in one county because a few cases were reported. Major overreaction. Like people being scared of terrorism when they are so much more likely to die in a car accident.

Hope people realise that by spraying pesticide, you are killing off frogs and other beneficial insects.

There are better strategies than the spraying. But spraying lines the pockets of certain companies. Screw the environment.

It would be better to:

Not develop wetlands or build to near them
Let people wear Deet if they are worried
Leave areas available for dragonflies, barnswallows, frogs and bats
Make people check for stagnant water on their property