west nile

[mallardchaser]

I saw this on another site.

I am a researcher and my primary subject is WNV (detection and surveillance). I have been working in this area for a little over two years (just after it was discovered in NYC). I can assure you that there is way too much hysteria associated with this virus. If you are a healthy individual with a normal immune system, you are virtually at no risk of becoming ill from WNV. The key term here is "becoming ill". Most people that are exposed to the bite of an infected mosquito either do not become infected, or never know that they are because the immune response clears the virus from your body.

I posted this before:
Not every species of mosquito is capable of carrying or transmitting the virus. If infected mosquitoes bit 100 people, 1 may show symptoms of the virus (strong enough to see a doctor). The other 99 would not even know they were infected (if they were). Now I know a lot of people say that 1% is even too much to take a risk, but of this 1% only about 20% will have effects strong enough to put them down for a few days. Less than 1%, of the 1% will succumb to the disease. To put this in perspective, you have to be very, very unlucky to get WNV, and even more unlucky to die from it. Remember that to be part of the unlucky group, you must have a weakened immune system in the first place. To date there has not been an infection (noticeable infection) in a ?healthy? individual.
As far as the mosquito borne illnesses that we are concerned with (Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile Virus (WNV)), WNV is a non-issue. You are far more likely to be infected, become ill, suffer long-term effects, and/or die from EEE or SLE. On the bright side, it was not that long ago that malaria and yellow fever influenced every aspect of life in south.
Anyone with HIV would be very susceptible to WNV. Remember that HIV is not the only reason people have suppressed or compromised immune systems. People that have had organ transplants must remain on immuno-suppressant drugs for the rest of their lives. People with cancer undergoing treatment, leukemia, and a host of other disease and genetic disorders are also immunocompromised. As people age their immune response is also decreased, as are infants.
Yes it would be a bitch to have HIV and WNV, that is a lethal combination. The person that died in Chicago had a kidney transplant (i.e. taking drugs to suppress his immune system) and slept on his porch because he had no air conditioning. This man was a WNV casualty waiting to happen.

I?ll stop rambling on now and leave you with this. Wear DEET when you are outdoors at dusk or dawn. Remember to spray your dogs as well, they can get WNV also.

[Wingman]

Hehe, wear Deet to keep from getting the WNV....ain't that ironic. Which one will kill you quicker?
I even had a man tell me a couple of days ago, that he saw on the news where they were gonna "ban dove season" because of WNV. People sure do worry alot.

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31
http://www.fowlmood.com

[GulfCoast]

I think dat came from my forum on the 'Refuge.

People do get West Nile. I have a friend in Gulfport Memorial with it right now. But I am not going to let it stop me from living my life.

[mallardchaser]

You're right GC, it did...

[SoftCall]

Why would they ban dove season? That makes no sense. Those WNV infected doves are the only one's I can hit...they fly slow and stop on the power lines frequently.

[ducman77]

I belive that the whole west nile thing has been blow out of porportion.

[Delta Duck]

My Dad had a horse that get sick, the Vet came over and said the horse was showing signs of West Nile. The horse died last night.

[Wingman]

Does this mean horse season is closed?

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31
http://www.fowlmood.com