| Previous story | Next story | Spraying home |
The Westerly Sun 8/23/02 Back
West Nile toll could hit 16 deaths as spread continues
ATLANTA (AP) - Steadily spreading westward across the United States, the mosquito-borne West Nile virus has already claimed at least 14 lives, infected almost 300 people and has been detected in all but seven of the lower 48 states.
The year's nationwide death toll could rise to 16 if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirm two deaths from the virus reported Thursday in Georgia.
The victims were a 51-year-old Atlanta man and a 77 year-old man from Columbus, but state officials did not say when they died.
At least 33 people have died since the virus appeared in the United States in 1999. There is no known cure for humans.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the first national trial of a drug this week, clearing the way for James Rahal of the New York Hospital Queens to see whether interferon can lessen the symptoms and duration of the illness in infected patients.
Transmitted to humans by mosquito bites, West Nile virus can cause fever, body aches, brain swelling, coma, paralysis or death.
Most of this year's deaths and the 296 reported human cases have occurred in the South. Louisiana alone accounts for 147 illnesses and eight fatalities.
There have not yet been any confirmed reports of West Nile in southeastern Connecticut or in Rhode Island this year, but health officials have warned residents to take precautions against mosquitoes, such as clearing away standing water that can serve as a breeding ground.
A number of mosquito pools and crows in Westerly tested positive for West Nile two years ago, and there were confirmed reports in mosquitoes last year as well. But there has never been a confirmed human case in Rhode Island or in southeastern Connecticut.
Dr. Lyle Petersen, a CDC expert on the virus, said it probably will always be worse in the South because warm weather means more mosquitoes.
"But outbreaks could eventually happen anywhere," he added.
Montana health officials on Thursday confirmed finding West Nile in a horse. New Mexico officials said two horses there were infected and birds were being tested.
"I'm sure if we keep looking hard enough we'll find some more," said Thurman Reitz, assistant New Mexico state' veterinarian. "I don't have any reason to think it's going to quit at the Texas border."
Arid New Mexico is not as mosquito-prone as some other states, and especially not in this period of drought, but the insects are around, state officials said.
| Top | Previous story | Next story | Spraying home |