Heavy rains may increase West Nile virus risk

[question everything]

Saturday, January 15, 2005

Heavy rains may increase West Nile virus risk

By: RUTH MARVIN WEBSTER - For the North (San Diego) County Times

Health officials are closely watching the county's swelling lagoons, rivers and ponds, and taking stock that there may be more standing water come springtime.

Standing water is a key breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne virus that causes flulike symptoms such as body aches and fever. In severe cases it can cause encephalitis, a swelling of the brain and spinal cord that can be fatal.

Mosquitoes become infected and spread the virus to humans and other animals by feeding on infected birds.

(snip)

For now, officials say, it's still too early to tell.

"This is not the mosquitoes' prime breeding season," Miller said. "We will need about two weeks of consistently warm weather ---- in the high seventies ---- before we see much mosquito activity. That doesn't usually happen until the end of March or beginning of April.Last year, we saw increasing populations in May."

Officials warn that the public should remain vigilant in eliminating standing water, even in winter.And though mosquitoes are considerably less active and thus less likely to breed then, county employees continue to trap adult mosquitoes.

More..

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/01/15/news/top_stories/21_44_151_14_05.txt

[HEyHEY]

1. Yet another media scare

there were 11.....ELEVEN cases of West Nile in Canada last year..no one died.

[theresistance]

2. Remember when it was suggested Iraq was responsible

for the West Nile outbreak? It was suggested by at least NewsMax at around the time of the anthrax attack soon after 911.

[bemildred]

3. Big year for skeeters up in the mountains, bet on it.

I recommend staying above 8000 feet after May. maybe even April,
depending on when it heats up.