Calif. woman infected with polio-like form of West Nile virus

Monterey Herald ^ | Aug. 25, 2004 | AP

[QQQQQ]

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Federal health officials are worried about a polio-like form of West Nile virus that has infected more than 30 people, including a California water skier who was bitten by an infected mosquito in Colorado last summer.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are monitoring the rare disease known as acute flaccid paralysis, or West Nile poliomyelitis, which struck down 32 residents last year in Colorado.

"Most of the people have a condition almost identical to that caused by the polio virus," CDC epidemiologist James Sejvar told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Those developing West Nile poliomyelitis tend to be younger and otherwise healthy."

By contrast, the rare polio-like variant tends to strike healthy adults in their 30s and 40s. Doctors aren't sure if patients will ever recover full use of their limbs, and some patients can no longer breathe without a ventilator.

No cases of West Nile poliomyelitis have been confirmed in California, but researchers are looking into several suspicious cases. On Tuesday, state health authorities reported that in the past week the number of West Nile infections rose more than 46 percent to 277 cases, mostly in southern California. The disease has claimed nine lives in the state.

[cmsgop]

Really make you want to have a BBQ doesn't it?

[Slump Tester]

No one will ever convince me that we don't have the ragheads to thank for this disease.

Saddam bragged about working with it several years ago. (WE sent it to him to play with)

Does anyone else remember seeing any of the arab "art" that was posted after 9/11? It had barren land around our landmarks, and there was always an arab stallion running through the picture. There were mosquitoes too.

Another reason to nuke the bastards and let God sort them out.

[EggsAckley]

Monterey Herald is not on the excerpt list.

---

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Federal health officials are worried about a polio-like form of West Nile virus that has infected more than 30 people, including a California water skier who was bitten by an infected mosquito in Colorado last summer.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are monitoring the rare disease known as acute flaccid paralysis, or West Nile poliomyelitis, which struck down 32 residents last year in Colorado.

"Most of the people have a condition almost identical to that caused by the polio virus," CDC epidemiologist James Sejvar told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Those developing West Nile poliomyelitis tend to be younger and otherwise healthy."

The disease is carried by birds and transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. About 20 percent of those bitten by an infected insect show flu-like symptoms, while about one in 100 suffer the most severe form of the illness, developing life-threatening brain inflammation.

By contrast, the rare polio-like variant tends to strike healthy adults in their 30s and 40s. Doctors aren't sure if patients will ever recover full use of their limbs, and some patients can no longer breathe without a ventilator.

No cases of West Nile poliomyelitis have been confirmed in California, but researchers are looking into several suspicious cases. On Tuesday, state health authorities reported that in the past week the number of West Nile infections rose more than 46 percent to 277 cases, mostly in southern California. The disease has claimed nine lives in the state.

Richelle Matli, 48, of Pleasanton, contracted West Nile poliomyelitis through a mosquito bite last summer in Fort Collins, Colo., where she was competing in a water ski competition. She had hoped to ski in national competitions two weeks later, but ended up spending five days in intensive care at a San Francisco hospital with a polio-like paralysis in her left leg.

"I went into the hospital under my own power and came out in a wheelchair," said Matli, an X-ray technician with two teenage daughters. Before the illness, she was ranked 5th nationally in the slalom competition, which requires a skier to weave through buoys on a single ski.

"There was a time when I could not lift my foot," Matli said. "A month ago, I still could not walk up a stair. I still can't stand on my toes. But I see little improvements almost everyday."

[blam]

West Nile Virus Can Cause Polio-Like Symptoms

[QQQQQ]

Well, if you want to put on the tinfoil, I have read that Castro developed it for Saddam.

Here is an article I found with my current quick search, but I read others -- also about the peculiar way it showed up in the US.

CASTRO´S HELP ON THE WEST NILE VIRUS EPIDEMIC?

http://www.futurodecuba.org/West%20Nile%20virus%20epidemic%20and%20Castro%C2%B4s%20help.htm

"The October 18-25, 1999 issue of The New Yorker carries a well researched story by Richard Preston that created quite a furor at that time: the possibility that the mysterious encephalitis outbreak in New York City was really a deliberate bioterrorist attack generated by Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. "

[Dolphy]

I can't remember if it was last summer or the summer before but we had several of these West Nile cases with polio-like symptoms. I was shocked then there was so little national coverage.

[riri]

It's near epidemic here in Arizona--land of few mosquitos, I might add.

This is some scary stuff.

[Slump Tester]

What I'm talking about was actually posted right here on FR. The land was barren, and was always shown covered with some kind of dead mold choking everything off. Some of the mold at the edge (still living) would almost be florescent yellow. There were mosquitos too.

There were a bunch of pictures like this from some raghead websites. I think it was about the time of the Anthrax scare. I thought I bookmarked it, but I can't find it.

[Odyssey-x]

Hmm.. Worldnetdaily thinks it's Saddam's revenge.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38623

[StormEye]

Why isn't there a crash program to develop a
vaccine for this imported disease? Or is AIDS
getting all the money?

[Nov3]

Time to dust of the DDT - screw the enviromentalists

[blam]

"It's near epidemic here in Arizona--land of few mosquitos, I might add."

"This is some scary stuff.

I've read that 90%+ that are exposed to WNV, never know it.

[Slump Tester]

I just think it's odd that ALL OF A SUDDEN we have this here.

Makes a pretty compelling reason to start using DDT again doesn't it?

[blam]

Another Polio? Alarming West Nile Risks Emerge

[VxH]

>>Really make you want to have a BBQ doesn't it?

Another social institution under attack by the hysterical media.

THE SKY IS FALLING!

[Old Professer]

Boy, when you hit two keys at once you do it big time, don't you? This headline screams that an infected woman infected 9 people, but we all know that the 9 key and the i key are right against one another, don't we?

Admin change is in order.

[StormEye]

Fifteen billion dollars to Africa for "AIDS prevention
and research." How much to protect Americans from
the West Nile virus? GW Bush needs to get his
priorities right. Hopefully, after he's re-elected
he'll see the light. But I wouldn't bet on that.
He's enamored to PC politics here at home.
ARE YOU LISTENING RNC?

[RightWhale]

I've read that 90%+ that are exposed to WNV, never know it.

I bet they are. Most were exposed to polio back then, and some came down with it. We kids used to talk about it, saying we all had polio but most didn't get the paralysis. Just luck if you didn't.

[Old Professer]

On rereading and examining my keyboard, it seems you didn't hold the shift key down for the left parenthesis, either way, got my attention.