West Nile virus in your area?

[southerngale]

Mosquitoes are testing positive for the West Nile Virus in several locations in Beaumont. They're saying the saltwater intrusion from Hurricane Rita created new breeding grounds, so I guess it's worse than usual.
They're recommending long pants and long sleeves....ummm, it's in the 90's out there!


If/when West Nile threatens your area, do you spend less time outdoors or do you just spray yourself and go?

More Money Will Be Needed For Mosquito Control In Jefferson County

Jefferson County's director of mosquito control says Hurricane Rita's negative effect on Mother Nature will multiply the area's mosquito population, and push his budget to the limit.
Lee Chastant is saying this on the same day he's announced a third location in Beaumont that's test positive for West Nile, it's at Corley and South 11th.
Wednesday, KFDM reported on mosquitoes that had tested positive for the West Nile virus in two other areas of South Beaumont, near the corner of Sabine Pass and Harriot, and the corner of Saxe and Park.
Chastant tells KFDM that he'll have to seek additional funding from county commissioners this summer because his department has had to spray record amounts of acres this year.
He doesn't believe his current budget will last through the end of the fiscal year on September 30th.
The mosquito control director says saltwater intrusion caused by Hurricane Rita has created new breeding grounds for mosquitoes and that the storm also eliminated natural predators of the mosquito, like dragonflies.
Chastant asks citizens not to panic, and to use common sense when outdoors, he recommends long pants, long sleeves, and repellant.

http://www.kfdm.com/engine.pl?station=k ... local.html

Btw, where are all the MOTM nominations? You people are SLACKING!!
http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=85948

[vbhoutex]

We have it all over the city of Houston, with a few concentrated areas. Can't do the long pants lonsleeve thing in summer!!! So it is spray and go.

[Skywatch_NC]

Not here in Raleigh as far as I know.

[Audrey2Katrina]

I'm sure we'll be hearing about it here... Lord knows there was plenty enough water--and it was a serious problem here a couple of years ago.

A2K

[TexasStooge]

Officials have begun spraying around North Texas after positive West Nile tests. This is the most infamous time of the year.
____________________________________________________________________

Plano to spray after positive West Nile tests

By PAULA LAVIGNE / The Dallas Morning News

Plano will spray some central neighborhoods Friday morning after mosquitoes from the city tested positive for West Nile Virus.

City crews will spray between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. in an area roughly bordered by Highway 75, Alma Drive, Spring Creek Parkway, and West Parker Road. Crews will use a special pesticide designed specifically for killing adult mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes harvested near the 800 block of Cambridge Drive tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to a city news release issued Thursday.

A second sampling of mosquitoes is being sent to a Texas Department of Health lab for more testing. The city of Plano routinely tests mosquitoes throughout the city for a number of diseases including West Nile virus and encephalitis.

There have been no reports of the West Nile Virus in humans in Plano this summer.

Dallas crews sprayed for mosquitoes earlier this week after the West Nile Virus was detected in mosquito samples from Oak Lawn. The virus has also been detected in north and northwest Dallas and Pleasant Grove.

The West Nile season begins in June, peaks in July and lasts through October.

People who might be out early in the morning should be aware of crews spraying, but people shouldn’t worry about the pesticide contaminating swimming pools or outside watering bowls for pets, said Steve Berry, environmental health manager for the city of Plano.

[weathermom]

We heard about it a bunch a few years back when it was first in the area. Now you don't hear so much about it. You can't get nuts about everything that the media blows out of proportion.

Let's see...... Mosquitos with west nile, stay indoors at dawn and dusk when they are most active.

Sun exposure...strongest between 10-4 stay indoors during these hours.

The result so far? Inactive, obese kids who never get outside.... vitamin D deficiencies..... Let's not be so afraid of the natural world.

Live life and let the media do the worrying for you, they seem to do more than their share!

[feederband]

I live in florida...The west nile runs though here...

[JenBayles]

I thought the worst was over a few years ago when WNV first showed up. Seemed like every other day I'd find a new body out in the yard. WNV is really sad to see. The infected birds start out getting inactive and seeming to crave water. Then they puff up and just sit around looking miserable. Seems like the nervous system gets messed up as well because by that stage, flying is almost impossible and if they do manage to move, their movements are very uncoordinated. Next thing you know, the bird is dead.

I noticed the Houston area started spraying again just north of our west side location because WNV reappeared. Officials were surprised because usually the virus goes through but doesn't come back as strong.

This morning I noticed a purple finch out back that seems to be in the early stages of infection. Makes me really sad because it's rare to have them here and I've had a breeding pair come back every spring for five years now.

[TexasStooge]

Now my hometown is hit with the West Nile Virus
_____________________________________________________________

Irving woman recovers from West Nile trial

By DAN RONAN / WFAA ABC 8

IRVING, Texas — A 49-year-old Irving woman is the latest to contract the potentially fatal West Nile virus.

Just days ago, Jo Lynn Kirkbride was fighting for her life after being stung by a mosquito. Her husband, Dale, believes he knows where the insect came from—a storm sewer several hundred yards from their home.

Even with the opressive mid-summer heat, there's still standing water in the sewer and reproducing mosquitoes love it.

Irving officials said the neighborhood would be sprayed on Saturday.

Jo Lynn Kirkbride was home on Friday, but for five days, her life hung in the balance.

"Mosquitoes come out, and you get bit by mosquitoes," she said, "but you dont think anything about it."

That all changed after a bite send this mother of three and Irving salon owner to the brink of death.

Dale Kirkbride explained what happened. "She started having little seizures," he said. "She was shaking, and I held onto her and called 911."

Jo Lynn had a temperature of 104 degrees.

Doctors in the intensive care unit placed her in a medically-induced coma for three days to battle the virus.

Then they gave her four kinds of antiobiotics, the strongest a person can take.

West Nile virus is usually not fatal, but Kirkbride had a severe reaction. "Most of the cases the people die or are paralyzed," she said. "The doctor told me in the emergency room this was a life-or-death threatening thing."

Dale Kirkbride said his wife loves to relax in the backyard, and mosquitoes—possibly from a nearby storm sewer—may be responsible.

For now, Kirkbride's daughter is running the salon while her mom recovers. Jo Lynn hopes to be off the couch by the end of the month.

"It's hard for me to get up and walk around, but I have to try to make myself do that," she said. "I have to get my energy back up."

Kirkbride became ill after city officials said several mosquitoes from her neighborhood tested positive for West Nile. Saturday's spraying was set for the 75061 zip code.

"I'm just so lucky that she is still with us," Dan Kirkbride said.

[Aslkahuna]

Been in Arizona the past three years at least. Puts a crimp in sitting outside under my big shade trees in the Evening or using my telescopes. Another present from the Middle East.

Steve

[azsnowman]

Been in Arizona the past three years at least. Puts a crimp in sitting outside under my big shade trees in the Evening or using my telescopes. Another present from the Middle East.

Steve

It's been in Northern Az. for approx 6 yrs.....quite a few illness's on the Navajo Rez and a few deaths from it, what's worse here is the Huanta Virus, a disease carried by rodents (mice in particular).....

[azsnowman]

http://www.wmicentral.com




West Nile Virus arrives in Arizona
Two mosquito samples collected in La Paz County tested positive





07/14/2006





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West Nile Virus has made its first appearance of 2006 in Arizona, and state and local health officials are encouraging everyone to take precautions against the disease.

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Two mosquito samples collected June 27 by health officials in La Paz County tested positive for West Nile virus at the Arizona State Health Laboratory. These are the first mosquito samples to test positive this year. No human cases have been reported.
Since its first arrival in Arizona in 2003, more than 500 residents have been infected with the disease. Twenty deaths have been attributed to West Nile in the state.
"Although we can't predict how severe the West Nile season will be this year, it is important that we all take steps to protect ourselves from mosquitoes," said David Engelthaler, State Epidemiologist. "West Nile is just as serious this year as it was in previous years; it will still cause serious illness and probably even deaths."
The arrival of the monsoon season is likely to increase West Nile activity because mosquitoes breed in standing water.
"Be prepared," Engelthaler urged. "Use insect repellent, and wear protective clothing, especially between dusk and dawn and in areas where mosquitoes are active. One of the most important things we can do is to be sure we are not raising mosquitoes in our pools, ponds and birdbaths"
The state has established a web site, http://www.westnileaz.com, and a toll-free number, 1-800-314-9243, (Metro Phoenix: 602-364-4500), to provide additional information.
West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans and animals through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds.
The best way to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and neighborhood and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites, such as:
* Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Check for items outside the home that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, drums and other containers.
* Change water in flower vases, birdbaths, planters and animal watering pans at least twice a week.
* Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently.
* Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes when going outside at night by using insect repellent.
* Wear lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs during dawn or dusk, or in areas where mosquitoes are active.



©WMICentral 2006

[roadie]

Here in Baton Rouge, we've had problems with West Nile for a few years...this year appears to be no different...see quote from the July 15 local newspaper below...

W. Nile spreads through EBR
28 mosquito samples test positive for virus in last week

West Nile virus continues to build up in mosquito populations across East Baton Rouge Parish, according to mosquito control officials.

East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Control District personnel submitted 80 mosquito samples last week to LSU for testing. Twenty-eight samples were positive for West Nile virus.

[TexasStooge]

Dallas sees three new West Nile cases

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - There have been three new cases of the West Nile virus, Dallas officials announced on Tuesday.

The cases were reported in zip codes 75226, 75006 and 75149.

Two patients were diagnosed with West Nile meningitis, while one patient in zip code 75149 was diagnosed with West Nile encephalitis.

"We will continue to work with our city partners to protect Dallas County residents from mosquito-borne illnesses," said director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services, Zachary Thompson.

Full Story Here

[HurricaneHunter914]

Because of the droughts we had earlier, there hasn't been much of a worry about the West Nile Virus.

[TexasStooge]

This is where it gets really ugly in the West Nile season.
_____________________________________________________________

Tarrant County reports West Nile deaths

FORT WORTH, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Tarrant County Public Health reported its first West Nile deaths of 2006.

An elderly resident of Fort Worth died of pneumonia, which was complicated by the West Nile Virus and another elderly person who lived in Hurst died of causes directly related to the disease, Tarrant County authorities said.

Full Story Here