LYCOS RETRIEVER 
West Nile Virus
built 434 days ago
For the summer of 2006, the MHDidentified (in Milwaukee)90 pools of mosquitoescarrying West Nile Virus (WNV) and 2 crows that were infected with WNV.Therewere 5 human WNV cases reported in Milwaukee County and 21 total in Wisconsin (see chart below). Watch here for news about 2007.
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West Nile Virus (WNV) infection is an illness transmitted to humans primarily by mosquitoes. Flooded areas, particularly in warm climates, provide ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed in stagnant water. Bites from infected mosquitoes may result in illnesses which range from mild flu-like conditions (West Nile fever) to severe and sometimes life-threatening diseases requiring hospitalization (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis). If you have symptoms of severe illness, seek immediate medical assistance.
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In 2007 the World Community Grid launched a project where by computer modeling of the West Nile Virus (and related viruses) thousands of small molecules are screened for their potential anti-viral properties in fighting West Nile Virus. This is a project which by the use of computer simulations potential drugs will be identified which will directly attack the virus once a person is infected. This is a distributed process project similar to SETI@Home where the general public downloads the World Community Grid client and the program (along with thousands of other users) screens thousands of molecules while their computer would be otherwise idle. If the user needs to use the computer the program sleeps. There are several different projects running, including a similar one screening for anti-AIDS drugs. The project covering West Nile Virus is called "Discovering Dengue Drugs – Together."
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Although New Jersey abandoned this program years ago because the yield seemed to be low, it quickly re-instated surveillance when news of West Nile Virus arrived. Moreover, the county Commissions have been vigilant in keeping infestations of mosquitoes in check through the use of Integrated Pest Management which reduces breeding areas in proximity to human activities, introduces natural predators to keep mosquito populations in check and uses judicious spot-applications of larvicides. Spraying to control adult mosquitoes is considered a last resort to be used only when local infestations become a serious nuisance or health threat.
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Vertical transmission of West Nile Virus from female Culex pipiens mosquitoes to their progeny has been demonstrated in the laboratory. It has been suggested that vertically infected Culex could survive the winter to initiate a WNV amplification cycle the following spring. Culex mosquitoes spend the winter hibernating in protected structures such as root cellars, bank barns, caves, abandoned tunnels and other subterranean locations. The first overwintering adult mosquitoes to test positive for WNV were collected in New York, 2000. Since then positive samples have been identified in New Jersey, 2003 and in Pennsylvania, 2003, 2004 and 2005.[29]
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West Nile Virus is likely to surface again this year, heralded by dead crows and great fanfare, and the pressure to use broadcast spraying may be powerful indeed. Improved surveillance will show that the virus occurs over a much wider area than just the New York metropolitan region. Spraying is likely to begin much earlier in the season - June rather than August. If this happens, it is likely that the impact on butterflies and other non-target species will be severe.
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West Nile Virus