The History of West Nile Viruswww.west-nile-virus-prevention.com/history.htmlThe West Nile virus was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937. In 1957, in an outbreak amongst elderly patients in Israel, the virus was recognized as a cause of severe human meningitis or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord). Since then, the disease has spread throughout much of the world including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and most recently, North America. It has been detected in humans, animals and mosquitoes in all of these regions.
The West Nile Virus first appeared in North America in 1999 in New York City. Since then, it has been found in 47 States. The West Nile virus was first reported in Canada in August 2001 when it was discovered in dead birds and mosquitoes in Southern Ontario. It has been reported in five provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Today, we know that the West Nile virus is carried by birds and transmitted by mosquitoes. A human being or animal is infected with the disease when they are bitten by a mosquito that is also infected.
The chances of a person being infected with the West Nile Virus is very low and of those infected, less than 1% will become seriously ill. The very best way to avoid being infected is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes Here are some tips on how you can protect yourself from the West Nile Virus and prevent the disease from spreading:
· Use bug repellent when outdoors
· Wear protective clothing
· Eliminate areas around your home where water can collect as they can become ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
· Report any dead birds in your area
From: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_virusThe West Nile virus maintains itself in nature by cycling between mosquitoes and certain species of birds. A mosquito (the vector) bites an uninfected bird (the host) , the virus amplifies within the bird, an uninfected mosquito bites the bird and is in turn infected. Other species such as humans and horses are incidental infections, as they are not the mosquitoes' preferred blood meal source. The virus does not amplify within these species and they are known as dead-end hosts.
The West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted through female mosquitoes, which are the prime vectors of the virus. Only females feed on blood, and different species have evolved to take a blood meal on preferred types of vertebrate hosts. The infected mosquito species vary according to geographical area; in the US, Culex pipiens (Eastern US), Culex tarsalis (Midwest and West), and Culex quinquefasciatus (Southeast) are the main sources.[9]
The various (mosquito) species that transmit the WNV prefer birds of the Passeriformes order, the largest order of birds. Within that order there is further selectivity with various mosquito species exhibiting preference for different species. In the United States WNV mosquito vectors have shown definitive preference for members of the Corvidae and Thrush family of birds. Amongst the preferred species within these families are the American crow, a Corvid and the American Robin (Turdus migratorius), a thrush.
Dave’s 2 cents:West Nile Virus has always been a part of life in the African Congo – it just wasn’t called WNV until 1937, when it was first formally identified and named by Medical Science.
It is not new or humanly created – However, it is a great example of the globalization of disease.
Up until WWII, there were many diseases and disorders that were unique to their specific location. Congo Fever is no longer specific to just the Congo. Ohio Darlings disease is no longer just an Ohio Valley problem. HIV has also left the Congo and has spread worldwide. WNV is just another example of our global community becoming smaller and smaller. Free trade, diplomatic couriers, Armed Forces, and Immigration have all served to spread, once localized diseases, to the entire globe.
MosquitoesThe real danger of West Nile Virus is not the disease but the adaptation by mosquitoes. Malaria can only be transmitted by 1 species of mosquito. Malaria being widespread in one area and absent in another area, has more to do with the mosquito populations than the disease. WNV left the Congo and has been spread around the world. The how, where, and why of its spread has more to do with mosquitoes populations than the virus itself.
WNV can be transmitted by several mosquito species. It first has a large outbreak in NY and NJ. Then the following year in New England, wait 2 years and then an outbreak in Indiana and Ohio. Wait 2 more years the outbreak was Colorado and Wyoming. 2 years later it hits California.
Now, the Genie is out of the bottle! Pandoria’s box has been opened! Free trade, worldwide tourism, and the military have done their part to globalize the disease.
The risk to AmericaIf you read the literature, WNV is not that dangerous of a virus – unless you are already sick. Look around, >50 of our population is already sick, and that is why WNV scares so many people.
