“That’s a significant number. We should expect more. We are about to hit our peak and we still have another month when the majority of cases are going to occur.”-Kristy Murray, infectious disease specialist Baylor College of Medicine
On 22 August 2012, the CDC announced a huge jump in cases. At least 40 deaths country wide, and more than 1,100 cases. The CDC must wait for state agencies to make official reports before compiling numbers, which is why it seems the CDC is behind the curve.
In Texas, more human infections, and deaths. On 21 August 2012, two people in the Houston area died. On the same day a death in Collin County, near Dallas, was reported. Another person died in Dallas County. As of 21 August Texas now has nearly 600 confirmed infections. The state of Texas has officially asked the CDC for help. The CDC is calling their help “Epi-Aid response”.
The CDC responded to questions about why their reporting of cases was so low until a couple of weeks ago. The CDC says one main reason (besides the normal lag time in states reporting in) is because West Nile has symptoms so similar to other infections that many cases are being misdiagnosed. The best way to diagnose West Nile infection is with a blood test done within 14 days of getting sick.
However, don’t think it’s a simple test that you can just pop in and take: “It’s not a test that you just want to come in and say, ‘I want to be tested for it,’ because it can be painful and costly.”-Chris Hable, East Texas Medical Center
Hable does have advise for differentiating between flu/cold symptoms and West Nile: “We’re talking about patients with high fever, confusion, stiff neck, not acting like themselves, weakness, numbness….those are the patients we need to see here in the emergency room.”
Illinois, Minnesota and New York reporting their first human deaths from West Nile.
California reporting their second human death, in Fresno County: “My concern is we still have a few more months to go in the West Nile virus season, and we’re already at seven cases.”-Edward Moreno, Fresno County Department of Public Health
The Ohio Department of Health issued a new warning, and county officials agree: “It’s not bad in Lake County, we’re just proactive, it’s bad in all of Ohio, it’s bad in 26 states in the United States, so people should be aware of it, not only because they live here in Lake County, but when they go to travel over the holiday weekend, they need to pay attention.”-Nancy Niehus, Lake County Health Department
Officials in Ohio point out that mosquito counts are low this year, but the type of mosquitoes that are out and about are the type that spread West Nile.
Oklahoma reports four more people infected.
Tennessee reporting at least five human cases.
Main reporting possible first two human cases: “One thing we do want to encourage people to do, is that if they see dead birds, to let us know.”-Anne Lictenwalner, Animal Health Lab at the University of Maine
Indiana and Massachusetts reporting dozens more mosquitoes testing positive for the virus.
Alabama reporting at least five new human cases, but also reporting horses infected. Equestrian veterinarian, Barbara Benhart, has seen almost two dozen horses infected in one day, and some didn’t survive: “I saw it on a Sunday and it did not survive Monday.”
As of 21 August, there are 77 reported cases of horse infections (according to the United States Geological Survey’s disease maps) in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.
There is no treatment for an infected horse, but there is a vaccine: “I, from day one, have been told you get your horses vaccinated, just like your dogs and cats. You have to, because you care about them, and for everybody else’s safety as well.”– Rachael Tucker, horse owner
A related disease is also showing up in humans as well as horses, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE): “I would say that EEE activity this year has been particularly intense.”-Anne Roach, Massachusetts Department of Health
The Humane Society of the United States is concerned for the safety of your pets, not only from contracting the virus, but from the pesticide spraying taking place in some parts of the country. They say keep pets indoors if possible, and cover outdoor food and water sources when spraying is taking place. After all, the pesticides can be just as deadly as the virus.
Famous last words: “West Nile Virus is the most overblown health threat since the ‘killer bees.’”-Howard Garrett, organic gardening guru