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[WNV-L] Composite of WNV Detection Reports (2)
Date:
June 9, 2003
Posted by:
Environmental Risk Analysis Program (envrisk@cornell.edu)
ProMed-mail
FWD from ProMED-mail posting Fri June 6, id#20030606.1398: In this update: [1] Bird (Wyoming) [2] Birds, equine (Texas) [3] Equine (Georgia) [4] Cumulative statistics ex USGS Maps (as of 4 Jun 2003) [1] Date: Mon 2 Jun 2003 From: A-Lan Banks <A-Lan.Banks@derwent.co.uk> Source: Wyoming News, Sat 31 May 2003 [edited by ProMED moderator] http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/05/31/news/wyoming/4246075d1210cdf75beae45ef892bb5e.txt Wyoming: Dead Blue Jay Found East of Cheyenne Tests West Nile Virus-positive ------------------------------------------------ Evidence of West Nile virus appeared for the first time in Wyoming this mosquito season in the form of a dead blue jay found east of Cheyenne. Terry Creekmore, West Nile Virus Surveillance Coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Health, said a Cheyenne area resident saw a blue jay acting ill. The bird then fell dead. The dead bird was sent to the state for testing and tested positive for the virus, Creekmore said. "We know that the _Culex_ mosquito overwintered from last year," Creekmore said. An overwintering adult mosquito is the likely source of infection, he said, since large mosquito hatches have yet to occur in a cool spring. Blue jays and other members of the family _Corvidae_ , such as crows, ravens, and magpies, are particularly vulnerable to the disease. Creekmore expects the _Culex_ mosquitos to feed on fledgling birds in May. _Culex_ populations peak from late August through mid-September, he said, which is when _Culex_ mosquitos will feed on large mammals, such as horses and people. The first big hatchings of mosquitoes in Wyoming are typically _Aedes_ species, which has not yet been proven to be a carrier of West Nile virus, Creekmore said. Of 52 mosquito species in Wyoming, only 4 have been found to transmit the virus, said Dr. Stan Hartman, Laramie County deputy health officer. According to Scott Seys, deputy state epidemiologist, public health programs around the state were being notified that the virus is again active in Wyoming. Creekmore said he wasn't surprised that Laramie County was the first to detect West Nile virus this season. "The area has lower elevation and is further south," he said -- a warmer environment for mosquitos to either emerge from winter shelter or hatch in standing water. In 2002, the first year for West Nile virus in Wyoming, had a short mosquito season, Creekmore said, lasting from August 16 to late October. This year will have a longer season, from late May to late October, he said. West Nile virus is historically found in portions of Africa, the Middle East, and Central Europe. In 1999, the virus was found in New York City and has since spread to all but 4 states in the continental United States. Nationwide, last year 4161 people became ill and 284 people died from the infection. Fewer than 1 percent of the people infected with the virus become seriously ill. About one third of the people infected develop flu-like symptoms, while the majority of people never get sick. 2 non-fatal human cases were reported in Wyoming in 2002, but the number of human infections will likely increase as the virus continues to expand throughout the state, said Creekmore. Last year, the state public health lab tested 90 human cases with 2 positives; the state veterinary lab tested 342 horses with 96 positives and 273 birds with 20 positives. [2] Date: Tue 3 Jun 2003 From: Lee A. Chastant <lchastant@co.jefferson.tx.us> Texas: 3 Birds and One Horse Test West Nile Virus-positive -------------------------------------------------- Harris County, Texas (Houston area) has 3 West Nile virus-confirmed birds. The county does its collecting and has the birds tested by Dr. Tesch at UTMB in Galveston. The birds are: one mourning dove, one grackle, and one bluejay. Van Zandt County, Texas (East Texas) has one West Nile virus confirmed horse, and another awaiting lab results. This information was supplied by Dr. Ray Parsons, Director, Harris County Mosquito Control District and Dr. James Wright, Texas Dept. of Health. Lee A. Chastant, Director Jefferson County Mosquito Control District 8905 First Street, Beaumont, TX 77705 lchastant@co.jefferson.tx.us [3] Date: Thu 5 Jun 2003 From: A-Lan Banks <A-Lan.Banks@derwent.co.uk> Source: Tifton Gazette, Thu 5 Jun 2003 [edited] http://www.tiftongazette.com/articles/2003/06/05/news/news4.txt Georgia: First Equine Case of West Nile Virus Infection ------------------------------------------------------- The state's first case of West Nile virus infection in a horse this year has been found in Tift County. But one local environmental official said that the 3 horses found in Berrien County during the past month with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are even more of a concern. Stan Coppage, the District Environmental Health Director in Valdosta, said EEE is much more serious since its effects on human beings are far worse. "It causes a swelling of the brain and is a lot worse," Coppage said. "It's more serious, with a higher fatality rate than West Nile virus infection. West Nile fever is a milder disease, which is not to say it won't hurt you." [EEE is preventable. There are vaccines available for horses. In areas such as Florida and south Texas, owners are recommended to give the vaccine at least every 6 months, as the titers tend to drop to rather low levels by the end of 6 months, and mosquitoes are still around. Likewise there are fly/mosquito repellents available for horses. Horses and emus are sensitive indicators of this virus. Emus may be more sensitive than horses, but as the market has dropped so much on these birds, we don't have it reported much. However, if the virus is there in horses, it is in birds as well. Probably the biggest differential diagnosis based on clinical signs only is West Nile virus - Mod.TG] [4] Date: Fri 4 Jun 2003 From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> Source: US Geological Survey, West Nile Virus National and State Maps 2003, Wed 4 Jun 2003 [edited] http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/ USGS Surveillance Update, as of Wed 4 Jun 2003 ----------------------------------------------- The national and state maps compiled by the USGS reflect information for the 2003 West Nile virus reporting season that has been submitted and verified to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) up to Wed 4 Jun 2003. The surveillance maps posted on http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov are created from data contained in CDC's ArboNET surveillance database. The maps portray summaries of West Nile virus-positive surveillance data reported to the CDC by cooperating health departments and verified to ArboNET. In addition, maps for 2 surveillance categories (avians and mosquitoes) will portray counties that have done "testing" of samples for WNV. Discrepancies noted between these data and data presented from other sources reflect local variations in reporting policies and procedures. It is not unusual for cases to be announced in other media before being reported and verified in ArboNET. The following information is a synopsis of the results of West Nile virus surveillance listed according to state. The original USGS maps further locate both positive and negative surveillance reports by county. (The data are provisional and may be subject to revision.) Birds ----- 17 states are conducting surveillance, with 13 states reporting cumulative positive test results as follows: Alabama (4), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Illinois (1), Iowa (2), Kentucky (0), Louisiana (38), Michigan (3), Mississippi (3), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Oregon (0), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (0), Washington (0), Wyoming (1). Mosquitoes ---------- 3 states are conducting surveillance, with 2 states reporting cumulative positive results as follows: Georgia (2), New Jersey (1), Pennsylvania (0). Sentinel Flocks --------------- 2 states are conducting surveillance, both reporting cumulative positive test results as follows: Florida (34), North Carolina (1). Veterinary ---------- 6 states are conducting surveillance and all 6 are reporting cumulative positive test results [presumed to be equines] as follows: Alabama (1), Georgia (1), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (1), Wisconsin (1), Wyoming (1). Human ----- There are no reports of surveillance activity or positive test results from any state. [A suspected case of human infection in Washington state (see: West Nile virus, human - USA (Washington): suspected 20030601.1334) has not been confirmed. - Mod.CP] -- ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org> [see also: West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (01) 20030103.0016 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (02) 20030109.0072 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (03) 20030116.0135 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (04) 20030206.0323 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (05) 20030502.1101 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (06) 20030509.1155 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (07) 20030516.1218 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (08) 20030522.1255 West Nile virus update 2003 - USA (09) 20030601.1339 2002 ---- West Nile virus, horses - USA 2000: final report 20010831.2079 West Nile virus surveillance - USA 2000 final report 20010423.0792 West Nile virus surveillance - USA 20010129.0207 West Nile virus surveillance 2001 - USA (34) 20011130.2914] 2001 ---- West Nile virus, horses - USA 2000: final report 20010831.2079 West Nile virus surveillance - USA 2000 final report 20010423.0792 West Nile virus surveillance - USA 20010129.0207 West Nile virus surveillance 2001 - USA (34) 20011130.2914] .................cp/tg/pg/lm *##########################################################* ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at http://www.promedmail.org. Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name and affiliation, it may not be posted. Send commands to subscribe/unsubscribe, get archives, help, etc. to: majordomo@promedmail.org. For assistance from a human being send mail to: owner-promed@promedmail.org. ############################################################ ############################################################
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