Posted on 07/26/2002 7:48:22 PM PDT by rdavis84
D.C. West Nile outbreaks
cluster around Army unit
Military lab experimenting with vaccine for virus spreading fast into Fairfax County
WASHINGTON – Over the past 18 months, health officials here have found 407 dead birds infected with the West Nile virus, including two picked up at the White House this week.
The mosquito-borne virus is spreading so fast in nearby Fairfax County, meanwhile, that health officials have stopped testing dead birds. Every quadrant of the county now has the virus.
Fifty birds – two blue jays and the rest crows – have already tested positive in the county so far this year, an official told WorldNetDaily. That's up from 34 for all of last year.
And neighboring Maryland has led the nation in West Nile virus cases, a few of which have resulted in human deaths.
What's behind the Beltway outbreak? No one knows for sure.
Experts don't even know how the North African virus, first discovered in New York in 1999, entered the U.S., although theories, such as bioterrorism, abound (even though the virus is not known to be an efficient bioweapons agent).
"They don't know how it started," said Dennis Hill, spokesman for the Fairfax County Health Department.
Some cite the National Zoo as a possible breeding ground. It's in the Northwest part of Washington, where the city's West Nile virus cases have clustered.
But zoo officials report only about a dozen bird deaths.
Many of the infected birds have been found in neighborhoods around the former headquarters of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, which has been developing a vaccine for West Nile virus. The infectious-diseases lab moved to Silver Spring, Md., three years ago.
But lab microbiologists still do research at the main post in Washington, which includes a hospital with an infectious-diseases clinic and lab on the 6th floor, Army officials say. Other visitors include researchers from the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, where the Army has tested biological weapons agents including anthrax, tularemia and encephalitis.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, at 6900 Georgia Ave., N.W., is in the city's Ward 1, where many of the virus-carrying birds have been picked up. In fact, many have been found at sites along Georgia Avenue, N.W., says D.C. Health Department spokeswoman Vera Jackson.
The Walter Reed institute is developing a vaccine for West Nile virus that comprises dengue virus with certain genes replaced by West Nile virus genes. Monkey trials were expected to begin earlier this year.
The virus – which has spread from New York to Florida and has been reported as far west as Louisiana, where it has claimed lives – is expected to be in all 50 states within the next two years, Hill says.
The disease produces flu-like symptoms and can lead to death, especially in small children and the elderly. More than 18 have died so far in this hemisphere.
| Dead bird found on White House lawn to be tested for West Nile Virus |
Houston man has West Nile virus
| New West Nile Cases Appear in La. |
| West Nile virus in Manitoba, Quebec |
Three Men in Louisiana Are First With West Nile Virus
| NY Health Dept. Issues West Nile Warning |
| West Nile virus confirmed in Chicago burbs (coincidence?) ^ |
I do recall some earlier speculation that there might have been more than one introduction of the virus earlier, since it seemed to be spreading linearly, along a major freeway, rather than equally in all directions. This suggested that, in fact, it wasn't "spreading" along the freeway but that somebody might be driving, releasing it along the way. I don't know whether the evidence really bears this out, though.
Squashing a killer West Nile virus moves west ~ excerpt:
West Nile virus is named for the region of Uganda where it was first isolated in 1937. It's related to yellow fever and dengue fever and primarily is a killer of birds - particularly crows, ravens, jays and their close cousins. Mosquitoes pick up the virus when they bite infected birds, then spread it when they bite a person or other mammal. Horses are particularly susceptible, though the virus can also infect cats, squirrels, bats, skunks and domestic rabbits.2 more W. Nile cases suspected - HoustonThe virus can't be passed between people, birds or horses without the mosquito link.
Most human cases are mild, with symptoms including fever, headache and body aches. In its most serious form, the disease can cause high fever, neck stiffness, convulsions and paralysis.
West Nile almost certainly is spreading across the country as the crow flies - literally. That's why the CDC launched a program last year to collect dead birds from the 48 contiguous states. The birds are shipped to a federal lab in Wisconsin to see whether they were killed by the virus.
West Nile infects 12 in southern United States - 7/26/2002 - Environmental Network
State's West Nile cases get CDC attention - New Orleans
West Nile virus spreading - Texas, Oklahoma and North Dakota
Minnesota: Two dead crows test positive for virus
Minnesota: State bites back with mosquito control
Mississippi: Officials watch 'highly suspicious cases'
Dead bluejay shows virus moving near Dallas
Indiana: Know which birds to be on lookout for
Another dead crow tied to virus - PA
West Nile virus found in Plano bird - Plano, TX
West Nile likely to strike people next - Ohio
Crow in Harford infected with the West Nile virus - CT
Blue jay found in Framingham neighborhood tests positive for deadly West Nile Virus - Framingham
Equine virus found in Chesapeake mosquito pool ~ VA
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 24, 2002CHESAPEAKE -- A mosquito pool in the Elbow Road area tested positive for the eastern equine encephalitis virus on July 11, according to the city's Health Department.
The virus, like West Nile, is spread by mosquitoes that feed on birds and small rodents and then carry it to horses and humans. Both diseases produce inflammation in the brain and cause neurological dysfunction in horses.
Last year, at least two horses in Suffolk died of EEE, and in 2000, at least six horses in Suffolk and Chesapeake died from the virus. EEE can be fatal to people, although only four human cases of the disease have ever been reported in Virginia. City mosquito commissions have been working to reduce mosquito counts, and there has been a substantial decrease in mosquitoes in the Elbow Road area, Health Department officials said in a statement.
Symptoms of EEE are similar to those of meningitis and include headache, lethargy, nausea and vomiting, according to the Health Department. To protect against EEE, people should get rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, use mosquito repellant and avoid the outdoors in the early evening.
No, no. It was finally determined that it was something about the wild cherry tree. (Forgot what exactly) I followed this story for a while because I have some wild cherry trees on my property.
That said. We had a number of horses in the area die from EEE last year. (There is a vaccine for EEE)
Now, what I'm trying to find out is: can dogs get WNV?
At first blush it would seem that mosquitoes can bite dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and goats almost as easily as man. Bites would be first to ears, noses, and places of exposed skin. Perhaps you can use a Deet product on your dogs ears and exposed parts like Off or Repel or something. I put it on our dog occasionally when the bugs are bad, just for his comfort.
Interesting that Framingham, Mass. has a bird case of the virus. They have been doing a lot of spraying to prevent it...or does the spraying prevent it....hmmm?
Don't know why you pinged on this, but there's Nile in Texas and...La.
As you, I retain suspicions as to the introduction of this virus. Could it represent a "test", to determine how fast it spreads and how we react to it?
If so, what other diseases are spread by the same vectors, I wonder...?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.