[at-l] West Nile Virus

["David F. Addleton" <dfaddleton@mindspring.com>]

Massachusetts reports West Nile virus 
 
Several mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile virus this month in New York  

July 26, 2000
Web posted at: 7:37 p.m. EDT (2337 GMT)


In this story: 

From birds to bugs to humans

Virus shows flu-like symptoms

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From wire and staff reports
BOSTON -- Evidence of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, which killed seven people in New York last year, has been discovered in Massachusetts in a dead crow, authorities said Wednesday. 
The state was testing mosquitoes in the area for the disease, officials said. Results of those tests will be available Thursday morning. 
West Nile virus was first recorded in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 in New York, where seven people were killed and 62 people were sickened by the virus. Since then, it has been found in mosquitoes or dead birds in Maryland, New Jersey and Connecticut. 
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West Nile virus 

 
The virus is named for the West Nile region in Uganda, where it was discovered in 1937. It is commonly found in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia and the Middle East. 
Massachusetts Department of Health officials said the dead bird was found July 22 by workers in a park in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. 
From birds to bugs to humans
Mosquitoes spread the virus from feeding on the blood of infected birds, which circulate the virus in their system for a few days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
After an incubation of 10 days to two weeks, infected mosquitoes can transmit the virus to humans and animals. Symptoms normally show up in infected people in three to 15 days. 
The disease cannot be spread from person to person. 
Trucks have sprayed insecticides in the New York City area to kill mosquitoes after infected birds were found there. 
After infected mosquitoes were discovered in Manhattan and Staten Island, a free concert in Central Park July 24 was postponed one day to allow the park to be sprayed. 
More than 200 New Yorkers have been tested this year for the virus, but state officials said all results were negative. 
Virus shows flu-like symptoms
Most humans who become infected with the virus develop mild, flu-like infections. 
But in severe cases, victims will develop the brain inflammation encephalitis, with symptoms of headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. Death is possible but rare, officials say. 
The elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to the virus. 
There is no specific treatment for people who contract the virus. In the most severe cases, patients need to be hospitalized in case they require a ventilator, antibiotics or intravenous fluids. 


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