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West Nile Virus (WNV) Facts
 What
is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus (WNV) attacks the nervous system and the brain. Severe
symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, convulsions, muscle
weakness, paralysis, and death. WNV can also be fatal to your pets, horses,
and other mammals.
Where Is WNV?
In 1937, WNV was first isolated in West Nile, Uganda.
Since then, the virus has been isolated in eastern Europe, West Asia,
and Africa. In 2001, WNV was confirmed for the first time in Ontario within
the bird, mosquito, and mammal population including humans. In Ontario,
Corvids (i.e. crows, ravens and blue jays) are thought to be the most
important hosts in maintaining the endemic 'host-vector' cycle of virus
transmission. Mosquitoes are the vectors that maintain this cycle and
help spread the virus from bird-to-bird (Enzootic vectors) or bird-to-mammal
(Bridging vectors). The recent incidence of WNV in North America has alerted
public health professionals to the importance of WNV surveillance.
Cases of West Nile Virus in Canada
| 167 |
Neurological Syndromes |
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| ¹ Note: Health Canada 's West Nile Virus web pages changed after we calculated this total. The older stats pages were removed and the details including deaths are no longer included in any available data we can find. If you locate this info please let us know. |
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| 1,127 |
Fever |
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| 16 |
Asymptomatic Infection |
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| 14 |
Deaths |
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| 1,388 |
Total as of May 2004 ¹ |
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Human case count for West Nile Virus in Canada (according to the Public Health Agency of Canada)
- In 2006, 151 diagnoses and 2 deaths
- In 2007, 2215 diagnoses and 12 deaths
Cases of West Nile Virus in United States
Human case count for West Nile Virus in the U.S.A (according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
- In 1999, 62 diagnoses and 7 deaths
- In 2000, 21 diagnoses and 2 deaths
- In 2001, 66 diagnoses and 9 deaths
- In 2002, 4156 diagnoses and 284 deaths
- In 2003, 9862 diagnoses and 264 deaths
- In 2004, 2539 diagnoses and 100 deaths
- In 2005, 3000 diagnoses and 119 deaths
- In 2006, 151 diagnoses and 2 deaths
- In 2007, 3630 diagnoses and 124 deaths
As of October 21, 2008, one thousand and one hundred forty-one (1141) human WNV clinical cases and one hundred and forty-four (144) presumptively positive
viremic blood donors have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S. Of the 1141 cases, 520 (46%) were reported as West Nile meningitis or encephalitis (neuroinvasive disease) and 580 (51%) as West Nile fever, and 41(4%) were clinical unspecified. Twenty-five (25) deaths
have been reported.
Reducing The Risk Of Contracting WNV
Kill Mosquitoes Where They Breed
The first way to reduce the risk is the elimination or treatment of standing
water where mosquitoes breed. Biological control agents, genetically known
as B.t.i. are specific to mosquito larvae (wrigglers) and are available
to cottage owners, rural dwellers and farmers as the product known as
AQUABAC.
Kill Mosquitoes Where They Fly
The second way to reduce the risk is the eliminatation of flying mosquitoes
from the areas where you and your loved ones are by means of a product
known to cottage owners, rural dwellers and farmers as the
BUG EATER.
Home Remedies For Repelling Mosquitoes
- Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets - Best thing ever used in Louisiana,
apparently and great for babies... just wipe on & go!
- Take one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October -
Bob, a fisherman, said it works. He hasn't had a mosquito bite
in 33 years. (Vitimin B-1 = Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
- Don't eat Bananas - If you eat bananas, mosquitoes like you
(something about the banana oil as your body processes it.)
Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be
much less interested.
- Vick's Vaporub - This is going to floor you, but one of the
best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every
day), is Vick's Vaporub.
- Plant marigolds around the yard - The flowers give off a
smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in appropriate places
to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.
- Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with
alcohol - "Tough guy" Marines, who spend a great deal
of time "camping out", say that the very best mosquito
repellant you can use is this half-and-half mixture.
- Vanilla Extract - One of the best natural insect repellants
that I've discovered is made from the clear real vanilla. This
is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for
mosquitoes and ticks.
- Essential Oils Lavender and Citronella - Repellents containing
essential plant oils (e.g. Citronella oil (5-10%) or lavender
oil, sometimes used in combination with tea tree oil, coconut
oil, almond oil, etc.) will provide 30-60 minutes protection.
- Fresh Mint - Make a solution of mint oil and rubbing alcohol,
place in a spray bottle and spray yourself before any outings,
the mint acts as a natural deterrent for most insects.
When all else fails, get a frog... |
Other Helpful Info
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