http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGANL7D12UC.html

Man With First Human Case of Mosquito-Borne Virus in Massachusetts Dies By Denise Lavoie Associated Press Writer Published: Nov 14, 2001

BOSTON (AP) - An elderly man died after contracting West Nile virus, the first confirmed human case of the mosquito-borne virus in Massachusetts, state health officials said Wednesday. The virus also claimed New Jersey's second victim. The unidentified 70-year-old from Woburn, a Boston suburb, died in mid-October after developing symptoms the previous month, officials said.

A second case has been confirmed in an 89-year-old man from Acushnet, about 50 miles south of Boston. He was hospitalized in stable condition.

New Jersey health officials say the 45-year-old man was likely bitten by an infected mosquito in late summer. He died Oct. 4 after being hospitalized since August.

The first case in the state this year - a 72-year-old Bergenfield woman - was detected in July.

In many cases, the virus causes no symptoms, while in others, it causes only mild, flu-like symptoms. Occasionally, it causes severe disease with brain inflammation, especially in the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

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On the Net:

CDC West Nile virus site: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/q&a.htm

AP-ES-11-14-01 2256EST

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

Answers

I guess we can admit now that efforts to contain WNV have failed.

I may have forgotten to mention that I tried smushing and rubbing catnip leaves against my bare skin and the mosquitos did leave me alone. (Based on a report we found at the BBC site and posted here.) We have the Asian tiger mosquitos here and they're very aggressive so I'm pleased with the one-time trial. I shall grow more catnip next year. Maybe spot it all over the garden, see what happens. I expect I shall attract all the neighborhood cats too :)

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2001

My neighbor doesn't approve of my growing catnip outside (that her cat can get into), and I don't have the room for it inside.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2001

Perhaps relatives work, like catmint.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2001

I think I have the right to grow catnip on my own property, irrespective of my neighbor's trespassing cats. I don't think I should be held responsible for the cat getting drunk on a native weed on my property, especially if I have particular cause for growing it.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2001

Ala. Man Dies From West Nile Virus

By Associated Press

November 16, 2001, 2:53 PM EST

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A 44-year-old man has become the first person in Alabama to die from the West Nile virus, state health officials said Friday.

The man, who was not identified, died Oct. 30 after becoming infected in late August, state veterinarian Bill Johnston said.

The man is the fifth person in the nation to die from the mosquito- borne virus this year, following a a 70-year-old man in Massachusetts, a 45-year-old man in New Jersey, a 71-year-old woman in Georgia and a Connecticut woman in her 90s.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn't confirm the Alabama case until Thursday because of a backlog caused by the anthrax investigation, Johnston said.

West Nile, first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999, is spread by mosquitoes that become infected when they feed on infected birds. It causes flu-like symptoms in the mildest cases.

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On the Net: http://www.cdc.gov Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001

go ahead and grow a lot of it Brook.

As long as the state hasn't outlawed it, like some other herb, no problem.

said neighbor can tie said cats up.

-- Anonymous, November 16, 2001