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Subject: [WNV-L] Update: Range & Cases US & Can 2003 (4)

Date: 5 Aug 2003
Posted by: ProMed


Excerpted from ProMED-mail  postings (Id: 20030803.1900 and 
20030803.1899), Sunday August 3, 2003:

[1] Canada
[2] CDC Summary of Activity in US
[3] New Mexico: First Human WNV Case
[4] Florida: First Human Cases in 2003 Detected
[5] Florida Infections Detected by Blood Screening
[6] Colorado: 18 Human Cases Confirmed
[7] Nebraska: 2 Suspected Human Cases
[8] Louisiana Equine Cases


---------------------------------------------------
[1]
CANADA
Source: Health Canada, Thu 31 Jul 2003
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/wnv-vwn/mon_e.html

Human: One confirmed case in Saskatchewan, detected in blood donation
Horses: 5 confirmed equine cases; Ontario (1), Manitoba (2), 
Saskatchewan (1), Alberta (1).
Mosquitoes: mosquito pool previously reported WNV-positive July 15 
2003 (in Ontario) is now considered a false positive.  As of 31 Jul, 
4 mosquito pools WNV-positive; Quebec (1), Ontario (1), Manitoba (1), 
Alberta (1).
Wild Birds: Test Results by Province:

Province                   No. submitted for testing   No.tested   No. confirmed positive
Newfoundland and Labrador    30                          29         0 
Prince Edward Island        207                         192         0 
Nova Scotia                 478                         461         0 
New Brunswick               491                         467         1 
Quebec                     1079                         998        14 
Ontario                    1242                        1086        74 
Manitoba                    833                         750        82 
Saskatchewan                819                         644        27 
Alberta                     707                         691         8 
British Columbia           1422                        1395         0 
Yukon                         7                           6         0 
Northwest Territories        10                          10         0 
Nunavut                       1                           1         0 
[ProMED-mail Moderator:]  The totals for Canada for 2003 so far are 
7329 birds submitted for testing, 6733 birds tested, and 206 
confirmed WNV-positive. In addition there were 1989 sightings of dead 
birds recorded. This represents an increase of 952 birds tested and 
73 more birds confirmed positive since the last update on Thu 24 Jul 
2003. Equine cases (5) and a human case are reported fro the first 
time, and the  number of positive mosquito pools has increased by 2. 
No positive WNV results have been reported yet from the peripheral 
provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova 
Scotia, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut - 
Mod.CP/JW]


[2]
CDC SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY IN US, JULY 24-JULY 30
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Fri 1 Aug 2003. 52(30);713-714
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5230a7.htm

During the reporting week of 24 to 30 Jul 2003, a total of 32 human 
cases of WNV infection were reported from 7 states (Alabama, 
Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Texas). 
During the same period,
WNV infections were reported in 277 dead corvids (crows and related 
species), 70 other dead birds, 36 horses, one dog, one unidentified 
animal species, and 352 mosquito pools.

During 2003, a total of 44 human cases of WNV infection have been 
reported from Texas (n = 11), Louisiana (n = 10), Alabama (n = 6), 
Colorado (n = 4), Florida (n = 4), South Dakota (n = 4), Iowa (n = 
one), Minnesota (n = one),
Mississippi (n = one), Ohio (n = one), and South Carolina (n = one). 
Among 43 (98 percent) cases for which demographic data were 
available, 27 (63 percent) occurred among men; the median age was 55 
years (range: 5 to 87 years), and the dates of illness onset ranged 
from 29 May to 19 Jul 2003.
In addition, 828 dead corvids and 220 other dead birds with WNV 
infection were reported from 36 states; 90 WNV infections in horses 
have been reported from 19 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, 
Florida, Georgia,
Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, 
North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, 
Wisconsin, and Wyoming), one infection was reported in an 
unidentified species (Florida), and 2 WNV infections were reported in 
dogs (Florida and South Dakota).

During 2003, WNV seroconversions have been reported in 86 sentinel 
chicken flocks from 6 states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, 
North Carolina, and Nebraska). South Dakota and Louisiana each 
reported 3 seropositive sentinel horses; 679 WNV-positive mosquito 
pools have been reported from 18 states (Colorado, Connecticut, 
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, South 
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin).

Additional information about WNV activity is available from CDC at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&controlCaseCount03.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm and
http://www.cindi.usgs.gov/hazard/event/west_nile/west_nile.html 
http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/

[In addition the first human case was reported from New Mexico and a 
suspected case in Nebraska are additional to the data included in the 
CDC-ArboNET report for the period 24 to 30 Jul 2003. - Mod.CP]


[3]
NEW MEXICO: FIRST HUMAN WNV CASE
Date: Fri 1 Aug 2003
From: Ami Logan <SweetSunflower29@msn.com>
Source: New Mexico channel.com, Fri 1 Aug 2003 [edited]
http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/health/2370858/detail.html

A Valencia County woman is the first human case of WNV in New Mexico. 
The woman had not traveled outside of New Mexico, which means she was 
bitten by infected mosquitoes in NM. She was seen by her physician 
with symptoms of fever, headache, and a rash. She did not develop 
meningitis.
In 2003, WNV has been found in a horse in Sierra Co, a horse in 
Chavez Co and a golden eagle in Santa Fe Co.



[4]
FLORIDA: FIRST HUMAN CASES IN 2003
Sources: Sun-Sentinel, Associated Press report, Fri 25 Jul 2003
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-725virus,0,7750682.story?coll=sfla-news-florida 
and  Florida Today, Associated Press report, Mon 28 Jul 2003

WNV has been detected in 2 Florida residents, marking the state's 
first human cases in 2003: a 76-year-old man from Collier Co [Marco 
Island, south of Naples on Gulf Coast] and an 85-year-old Okaloosa Co 
[Panhandle] woman (ann Jul 24). The 2 cases come early in the rainy 
season, when the freshwater mosquito that carries the virus thrives.
Collier Co was placed under a medical alert, urging people 
(especially those older than 50 with weakened immune systems) to take 
extra precautions to avoid getting bitten and allowing the state to 
spray insecticide if necessary.

On July 28, Florida health officials confirmed the first human case 
of WNV contracted in Brevard Co [central Atlantic coast].


[5]
FLORIDA INFECTIONS DETECTED BY BLOOD SCREENING
Source: Florida Today, Associated Press report, Mon 28 Jul 2003

The Central Florida Blood Bank detected WNV nucleic acid in the 
donated blood of a 36-year-old Rockledge man. Health officials plan 
to take another blood sample from the Rockledge man in a few weeks to 
make sure he has fully recovered from the viral infection. He was 
thought to have been infected by the virus while outside on the 4th 
of July. The man recovered from a brief illness by the time he gave 
blood on 15 Jul 2003 at the blood bank's Rockledge branch. The health 
department is also testing another WNV-positive result reported by 
the blood bank: A 40-year-old Stuart donor. The blood bank found the 
2 men's infected samples among 15 000 donations it has tested since 
30 Jun 2003, using a new machine that identifies [viral nucleic 
acid]. The Stuart
man, who suffered no significant illness, was working outside in the 
Rockledge area between late May and early July; he gave blood on 6 
Jul 2003.
In 2002, WNV killed 2 of 28 people infected in Florida.


[6]
COLORADO: 18 HUMAN CASES CONFIRMED
Date: Thu 31 Jul 2003
Source: Colorado Department of Health, Associated Press report, 31 Jul 2003

13 more cases of WNV have been confirmed in humans in Colorado, and 
many more are expected as the exotic disease takes hold, state health 
officials said  on Wed 30 Jul 2003. The latest human cases bring the 
total to 18, with 10 more suspected cases. The disease has been found 
in humans in 12 counties on the Eastern Plains and along the Front 
Range. WNV first appeared in in the state in 2002, infecting 13 
people. None of the Colorado cases has been fatal.

Dr. Ned Calonge, the state's chief medical officer, said the number 
of West Nile cases will rise but other diseases, such as [influenza], 
affect more people, he said. Influenza kills about 800 Coloradans 
each year. Calonge
said that the number of West Nile virus cases is expected to decline 
after  the disease has been in the state a few years.



[7]
NEBRASKA: 2 SUSPECTED HUMAN CASES
Date: Fri 25 Jul 2003
Source: Lincoln Journal Star, Fri 25 Jul 2003 
http://www.journalstar.com/latest_reg.php?story_id=66107

A 63-year-old Fremont man has been confirmed to have contracted the 
virus by the Three Rivers Public Health
Department. And preliminary tests show that a 19-year-old Lincoln 
woman could have WNV infection. Neither case has been confirmed by 
the state Health and Human Services System. Spokesman Bill Wiley said
the system is awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The Lincoln woman, a Nebraska Wesleyan University student, became ill 
last week. She reported that she had been bitten by mosquitos while 
on a July 4th boating trip in northern Kansas and is recovering.

In 2002, there were 174 known cases in people in 48 of Nebraska's 93 
counties (8 known fatalities thus far). Most of those cases were in 
July, August, and September.


[8]
LOUISIANA-EQUINE CASES
Date: Thu 24 Jul 2003
Source: Office of Animal Health Services, Louisiana Dept  Agriculture 
& Forestry,  24 Jul 2003 www.lvma.org

WNV has been found in 3 horses in Caddo and Lafourche Parishes. 
These are the first 3 that have been confirmed positive by the 
laboratory. WNV is a reportable disease when 1st suspected: Vets 
should test the suspect horses, call, email or fax the state office 
to report the suspect case, and submit blood work to the laboratory. 
Collect the following data: Name of owner, Address of owner, City and 
Zip code, Name of Horse, Breed, Sex, Age, Address of Horse, location, 
City, Parish, Zip code, vaccination status, Any other
pertinent data or comments.
--
M. A. Littlefield-Chabaud, DVM, MS
Assistant State Veterinarian
Office of Animal Health Services
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA  70806
PO Box 1951
Baton Rouge, LA  70821-1951
<malc@ldaf.state.la.us>
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