Record West Nile Cases Make World Diseases a U.S. Problem

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) With increasing numbers of mosquitoes in the U.S. carrying the West Nile and dengue viruses, it’s getting a little scary to go outside.

West Nile is poised to break records this year. Almost 1,600 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so far, including 66 deaths. The virus has been in the U.S. since 1999, sickening 30,000 altogether; this year the worst outbreak has been centered around Dallas.

West Nile’s cousin, dengue, also a sometimes fatal infection, has been in the U.S. since 1980, with outbreaks in Texas, Hawaii and Florida, most recently in 2010.

These are growing public-health problems, but they can also serve as opportunities to pull the U.S. squarely into the global fight against these mosquito-borne viruses. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-03/record-west-nile-cases-make-world-diseases-a-u-s-problem.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Just like people in Africa, most of us will be immune in 20-40 years

Approximately 80 percent of West Nile virus infections in humans are subclinical, which cause no symptoms.

I got bit several times about 3 weeks ago, and last week I was feeling a little poorly, almost like I had allergies, but now I'm fine. Just this week Oregon reported their first cases, so hopefully I caught it and got it over with.

We keep Gram inside of course, anyone with compromised immune system should take precautions against being bit.

I'm not sure that repeated bouts of spraying poison (that kills more than just the mosquitoes) is the best way to handle this.