[Alberta's Child]

If the West Nile virus was "terrorism," I'd say it's a pretty pathetic attack. West Nile occurs in nature and could just as easily have come here via a Third World immigrant. And 164 deaths probably doesn't even make it one of the 50 most lethal health-related issues in the U.S.

I know this sounds crass, but as far as I know all of the West Nile deaths involved people who were well over the age of 50, most of whom had compromised immune systems. In most cases, this would have another name -- "natural causes."

[blam]

"I know this sounds crass, but as far as I know all of the West Nile deaths involved people who were well over the age of 50, most of whom had compromised immune systems. In most cases, this would have another name -- "natural causes."

See post #17.

[Wil H]

164 deaths is not insignificant, and it isn't over yet, and could escalate. See what next year's crop of mosquitoes brings...

While it may seem a pathetic attack, it is a low cost, easy delivery method to spread death from a distance, Just populate an airtight container with swarms of infected insects and ship it to the US.

That is very low maintenance from the perpertrator's perspective and has almost no chance of tracing the culprits.

[okie01]

I know this sounds crass, but as far as I know all of the West Nile deaths involved people who were well over the age of 50, most of whom had compromised immune systems. In most cases, this would have another name -- "natural causes."

The paralysis cases are all in their thirties and forties, all of whom were active and healthy.

These people will die in a few years. After they waste away...

This symptom and outcome has not been heretofore associated with West Nile Virus.