Spring Break
West Nile continues to affect South Miss.
Carl Smith
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News
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Twelve new human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been reported by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Last week, Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties reported three new cases each, while Lauderdale, Leflore and Forrest Counties reported one new case each. These new reports bring the statewide total of human infections to 44. Only one death due to WNV has been confirmed this year.
Mississippi reported 184 cases of human WNV infection and 14 deaths in 2006, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Interim state epidemiologist Mary Currier said even though the number of reported cases is down compared to this time last year, she expects more cases to be reported through September.
"We had a lot of cases reported in 2002, and then the number dropped until 2006," she said. "We could be in a cycle, but we will not know until we can examine data years down the line."
WNV mainly infects birds, but is also known to infect horses, dogs, cats and other animals. Humans can acquire the disease through the bite of an infected mosquito.
According to the Mississippi Department of Health, examinations of mosquito populations around the state have confirmed 18 infected mosquito pools.
Twelve of the pools come from Forrest and Madison counties, and one is from Oktibbeha County.
Currier said the spread of WNV is not solely dependent on the breeding rate of the mosquito population.
"There are many factors at play here," she said. "If there are more birds breeding, that means there are more potential hosts for the virus. At the same time, if the local mosquito population is more active than other areas, then there's more of a chance they could pick up the virus."
A majority of people infected with the virus is asymptomatic. Others show symptoms that are common with those of influenza, such as fever, body aches and nausea.
Smaller groups of people experience the most severe effects of WNV, such as becoming comatose, experiencing vision loss and paralysis.
Mississippi reported 184 cases of human WNV infection and 14 deaths in 2006, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Interim state epidemiologist Mary Currier said even though the number of reported cases is down compared to this time last year, she expects more cases to be reported through September.
"We had a lot of cases reported in 2002, and then the number dropped until 2006," she said. "We could be in a cycle, but we will not know until we can examine data years down the line."
WNV mainly infects birds, but is also known to infect horses, dogs, cats and other animals. Humans can acquire the disease through the bite of an infected mosquito.
According to the Mississippi Department of Health, examinations of mosquito populations around the state have confirmed 18 infected mosquito pools.
Twelve of the pools come from Forrest and Madison counties, and one is from Oktibbeha County.
Currier said the spread of WNV is not solely dependent on the breeding rate of the mosquito population.
"There are many factors at play here," she said. "If there are more birds breeding, that means there are more potential hosts for the virus. At the same time, if the local mosquito population is more active than other areas, then there's more of a chance they could pick up the virus."
A majority of people infected with the virus is asymptomatic. Others show symptoms that are common with those of influenza, such as fever, body aches and nausea.
Smaller groups of people experience the most severe effects of WNV, such as becoming comatose, experiencing vision loss and paralysis.
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