“This will be the last update for 2012 until final data are available in the spring of 2013. As of December 11, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,387 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 243 deaths…..”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
14 December, California Department of Public health reporting eight new human cases in the past week, for a total of 453. Two new sentinel chicken cases, for a total of 540. One new positive mosquito sample, for a total of 2,489.
In Texas, a 12 years old boy has been in a coma since 13 November. His family was recently told he could be paralyzed, caused by swelling on his spine. The Department of State Health Services reports 1,807 human case, up 44 from the end of November. Dallas area beekeepers are complaining that the anti-mosquito spraying is killing off what little is left of their honey bees. A Doctor in pest control explained that the spraying took place at the wrong time in the mosquitoes’ life cycle, and had little effect, but did much damage to honey bees. He says local government officials were tricked by the pesticide industry: “They got sold a bunch of snake oil.”-Gene Helmick-Richardson
As of 11 December, Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 164 non-fatal human cases, and 13 deaths. It’s a record number of West Nile virus cases for the Panhandle State. Interestingly, state officials declared the West Nile epidemic over on 30 November.
Well it’s not over for Louisiana! On 30 November, 11 new human cases, with one death, were reported. So far this year the Pelican state has 382 cases, with 17 deaths.
In Florida, the number of human cases continues to increase. Between 27 November and 03 December, local media reported at least two new cases in the Sunshine state.
In South Dakota, a woman recently expressed happiness that she has West Nile, because months ago incompetent doctors had misdiagnosed her symptoms as leukemia: “What first ran through my mind was: ‘Are you kidding me? I come in here with a sore back and swollen glands and now you’re telling me I got leukemia?’ “-Toni Reber