STORM2K

West Nile Virus Detected In Virginia Beach

07-17-2003 03:12:PM
(Virginia Beach, VA) -- Virginia Beach health officials have announced the discovery of a crow infected with the West Nile virus. The bird was found in the 4900 block of Lockout Road in the Baylake Pines section of the city on July 7th. The state confirmed that the bird tested positive on July 11th. Health officials warn people to pay special attention to eliminating mosquito breeding areas around the home and to protect themselves from mosquito bites while outside this summer. West Nile virus is spread to birds, humans, horses and other mammals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Less than one percent of people bitten by an infected mosquito will become seriously ill. People over age 50 are at higher risk for developing serious illnesses including encephalitis or meningitis.

Rutt RO!!! :o Stay safe Mike!!

Be careful Mike!

I know city officials here in Douglasville are scared to death because we've recieved so much rain since May (32.32" here since 5/01...three times normal!). They are sending the trucks out spraying every street in town at least twice a week.

West Nile was found about 3 miles from me in Escatawpa. Sent everybody in a frenzy. I just took my horses in this morning for the West Nile vaccinations. They get them every 6 months. Guess where the vet is located? ESCATAWPA!! But their blood work came back negative. Their vet always does blood work before he gives their shots.

There have been several crows, blue jays, and horses in SW MO that have already tested positive for West Nile. 2 more today, in fact, in Greene Co., the neighboring county to the east of us.

Somewhere in my township a dead blue jay tested positive for West Nile. This was a few weeks ago. Authorities were looking for standing water and passing out information. So this sure shook people up. We had kept my daughter's sled under the deck last winter, to load up with firewood from the woods (our wheelbarrow had given out). I was weeding and saw it, thinking now how did we forget this was under the deck? And yes a few inches of rainwater had collected in it. Promptly dumped it out. A few years ago you just wouldn't have thought twice about something like this. Scary.

13 cities in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metro area (Including Irving) has already got West Nile Detected, and there's a possible human case in any of the cities.