No Cases of West Nile Virus in Marion; 3 in Iowa in 2012

While cases of West Nile Virus have spiked nationally, only three cases have been found in Iowa this year, and none in Linn County.

Marion Public Services Director Ryan Miller said the city pays a contractor to treat detention basins with standing water, in part to halt the spread of diseases like the West Nile Virus.

The statistics come from a U.S. Geological Survey disease map for Iowa with reporting through Aug. 14. The closest case of West Nile, which is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, to Cedar Falls is in Grundy County. There was one case each in Grundy, Lyon and Plymouth counties, all of which occurred in July, according to the USGS map.

KCRG-TV reports that two horses from Johnson County have also tested positive for the virus

Thus far in 2012, a total of 1,118 cases in 47 states of West Nile Virus disease in people, including 41 deaths, have been reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a statement today. Most of the cases come from five states, predominantly Texas.

Thus far in 2012, 47 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 1118 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 41 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 629 (56%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 489 (44%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease.

The 1118 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the third week in August since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999. Approximately 75 percent of the cases have been reported from 5 states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Oklahoma) and almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas.

CNN is calling it the largest ever outbreak of West Nile.

Here is some information from the Iowa Department of Public Health about how to detect West Nile and how to prevent getting it.

Symptoms

• Most people who are infected with West Nile virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches before fully recovering.
• Some persons may develop a skin rash and swollen lymph glands.
• Less than 1 percent of infections, particularly in those persons over age 50, West Nile virus can cause serious disease, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). These conditions may result in permanent brain damage, or on rare occasions, can be fatal.
• Symptoms of severe disease can include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, loss of consciousness, tremors, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

Prevention:

• Protect yourself from mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding site.
• Use insect repellents containing DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus have shown to be effective against mosquitoes. Permethrin repellents should be applied to clothing only and should not be used on the skin. Products containing up to 30% DEET have been shown to be the most effective and are safe for adults, including pregnant women and children over 2 months of age. DEET should be applied sparingly only to exposed skin and should not be used underneath clothing.
• Wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors for long periods of time or when mosquitoes are most active.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have holes or tears.
• Eliminate mosquito-breeding sites (they breed by laying eggs in standing water) by removing sources of standing water in outdoor areas where you work or play, such as by turning over or removing items where rainwater can collect; changing water in birdbaths and pet bowls every three or four days; making sure roof gutters are clean and in good repair.