West Nile Virus Continues To Haunt NYC
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

Mosquito laying egg sack.

Scores of dead birds were the first sign something was drastically wrong during the summer of 1999. That year, seven city residents died from West Nile Virus (WNV) after the disease appeared in Flushing and College Point and was recorded for the first time ever in the Western Hemisphere.

Since then, WNV has steadily moved west through the United States. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency after four people died from WNV in three different counties two weeks ago. WNV has been reported in every state since its arrival in Queens.

Moreover, the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the number of WNV cases in the United States is almost four times larger this year compared to 2006. So far, 122 cases have been reported, including 42 brain infections. This time a year ago, only 33 WNV cases had been reported.

"It's certainly a warning sign that we need to be extremely vigilant," said Dr. Lyle Petersen in the July 26 New York Times.

Eight years after it was first seen, West Nile Virus has again been found in New York City, but no cases of the disease have been reported so far this year, according to the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

WNV has also been found in Suffolk County on Long Island this summer, although no humans or animals have been infected there, either.

West Nile Virus (WNV) can cause encephalitis, serious inflamation of the brain or spinal cord, and can also cause flu-like symptoms of headache, fever and extreme fatigue.

Carried by mosquitoes, WNV shows no symptoms in almost 80 percent of infected people. About 20 percent display the flu-like symptoms and in one percent of those infected WNV can be serious enough to be fatal.

Last year, 177 people died of WNV, with the risk of dying from WNV greater for older people. After the outbreak of WNV in New York City eight years ago, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirmed 59 cases of the disease, but also estimated that as many as 8,200 people were infected by WNV, including 1,700 with mild flu-like symptoms caused by the infection. It was also estimated that there was one serious case of encephalitis for every 50 infections in those aged 65 and over, compared with one serious WNV case for every 300 infections in people aged less than 65 years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4,269 WNV cases were reported in the U.S. last year, including 1,495 brain infections. Petersen, director of the Division of Vector- Borne Infections for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, believes a WNV epidemic may be on the horizon this year.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reminds New York City residents to use an approved repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should NOT be used on children younger than three).

Also, make sure windows have screens, and repair or replace screens that have tears or holes. Eliminate any standing water from your property, and dispose of containers that can collect water. Standing water is a violation of the New York City Health Code.

Report dead birds or standing water by calling 311 or visiting www.nyc. gov/health/wnv.