Time to panic

[Gonz]

West Nile virus is nothnig but a headache. SO I thought. RUN FOR THE HILLS...

Illinois reports 1st West Nile case in a dog

By Tim Friend, USA TODAY

Veterinarians in Illinois have confirmed the first U.S. case of West Nile virus in a dog.

The infected dog, which has died, was an 8-year-old Irish setter-golden retriever mix that may already have had a disease that weakened its immune system. Officials do not expect an epidemic of the virus in household pets, but they caution that older dogs, puppies and dogs that already have weak immune systems could be at risk.

"As far as we know, this is the first case nationally that has resulted in the death of a dog," says John Andrews, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. "There may be other dogs that have been exposed."

The only other confirmed report of West Nile virus in a dog is from Botswana, Africa, in 1978.

 

[PT]

This is getting a little scary, there was a report on Tv the other day that there have been 15 cases (in humans) in Missouri now. It's a whole new world of viruses out there.

 

[Gonz]

Less than 10% of those "infected" get sick & of those, about 8% die. It's a media event, nothing more.

 

[MitchSchaft]

Ahh yes, the grand media. Gotta love 'em.

 

[PT]

There's a new virus, they don't know exactly how to diagnose it, yet it kills people? Thanks, but I'll be concerned.

 

[Gonz]

it's neither new nor especially dangerous. a good flu outbreak is far more deadly.

 

[Leslie]

The worst case scenario has been confirmed. The elderly Mississauga man who passed away Monday did indeed succumb to complications brought on by the West Nile virus. An autopsy Tuesday morning established that feared conclusion, that the mosquito-borne disease has, tragically, claimed another victim. In the U.S. this year, West Nile has already killed 69 people.

While the man is the second Canadian confirmed to have succumbed to the illness, he’s the first to have contracted it on our soil. The other victim brought it home with him after a visit to the U.S.

“It is clear that Ontario has entered a new era of concern for public health,” Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement lamented at Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital. “As minister of health and as a neighbour in the Peel (Region) community, I want to express my most sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victim.”

The name is the deceased hasn’t been released, but word is he was 70 and had previously led an active life.

The first Canadian diagnosed this year with West Nile, 51-year-old John Stevens of Burlington, Ont., fully recovered after a bout of mild flu-like symptoms. It’s suspected he was also infected in the U.S.

source

 

[Leslie]

As new information about West Nile - the mosquito borne disease - hits the country, some of us might be apt to shrug off concerns since biting season is almost over. But we’re not out of the woods yet.

We use to just worry about wildlife but now there’s news of human victims and a recent Ontario death that might be linked to West Nile. Want to protect yourself? The best way is with products that contain DEET. “At this point DEET is the only proven effective repellent, although there are some others such as citronella which work. They just don't work as well,” said Bob Matheson from Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Check the labels when you’re out buying bug spray. One with about 28.5 per cent DEET will keep you safe for about six hours. Another with 14 per cent will protect you for about four hours. Basically, the less DEET, the less protection.

Also, kids under the age of two shouldn’t use DEET and if they’re over two, the amount shouldn’t be higher that 10 per cent.

Here are a few more DEET related tips to remember – it can be corrosive to plastics like eyeglass frames and nail polish. As far as mosquito bite prevention goes, you can also fight the bugs with long sleeves and pants, netting over baby carriages and door and window screens that are in good repair.

Also remember, most of those who contract the virus will suffer no symptoms or only mild flu-like ones such as headache, fever and confusion. Less than 1% will come down with encephalitis, which can lead to fatal brain swelling.

source

 

[Psycho]

I agree with Gonz; as always, it's just a media event. Sure, they make it sound like it's threatening our entire existence, but compare the number of people killed by viruses like that to the number of people that get killed each year when they fall from their stairs, or even when they're putting on their socks (don't ask me how you could die doing that, but it seems that a lot of people do indeed), those rates are by far higher, and yet I see nobody panic and remove their stairs because of that...