[at-l] FW: West Nile Virus Fact sheet

[WHHAWKINS@aol.com (WHHAWKINS@aol.com)]

I thank the Fact Sheet got lost.

There is a lot of Information on the West Nile Virus on the CDC web site. Th=
e=20
copied info below came from their Q&A page. Is only a small part of the info=
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there. There is a link at the end to that page. There is also a link to the=20
CDC's West Nile Virus Home Page.

Wildbill

Overview of West Nile Virus
Q. What is West Nile encephalitis?
A. "Encephalitis" means an inflammation of the brain and can be caused by=20
viruses and bacteria, including viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. West Nile=
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encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by West Nile virus, a=20
flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is=20
closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus found in the United States.
Q. Where did West Nile virus come from?
A. West Nile virus has been commonly found in humans and birds and other=20
vertebrates in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East, but=20
until 1999 had not previously been documented in the Western Hemisphere. It=20
is not known from where the U.S. virus originated, but it is most closely=20
related genetically to strains found in the Middle East.
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Q. Historically, where has West Nile encephalitis occurred worldwide?
A. See the map describing distribution of flaviviruses, including West Nile=20
virus:
Q. How long has West Nile virus been in the U.S.?
A. It is not known how long it has been in the U.S., but CDC scientists=20
believe the virus has probably been in the eastern U.S. since the early=20
summer of 1999, possibly longer.
Q. How many cases of West Nile encephalitis in humans have occurred in the=20
U.S. ?
A. In 1999, 62 cases of severe disease, including 7 deaths, occurred in the=20
New York area. In 2000, 17 cases have been reported through September,=20
including 1 death.=A0 No reliable estimates are available for the number of=20
cases of West Nile encephalitis that occur worldwide.
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 <A HREF=3D"http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm";>Questions and=20=
Answers About West Nile Virus - CDC Division of Vector-Borne=20
Infectious Diseases (DVBID)</A>=20

The Home Page
 <A HREF=3D"http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm";>West Nile Vi=
rus Home Page - CDC Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases=20
(DVBID)</A>=20


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