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West Nile Confirmed In 3 Organ Recipients

Officials Recalling Blood From 60 Donors

ATLANTA -- Government health officials confirmed that West Nile virus killed one transplant patient and infected at least two others.

The discovery raises concern that the virus can spread through transfusions and other medical procedures. Until now, the virus had been thought to be transmitted to people only through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the victim died in Atlanta after receiving an organ from a Georgia woman who was killed in a car accident. The CDC said the woman had the virus, but an official said the woman could have gotten it by a mosquito bite -- the usual means. However, he said it's also possible that she acquired it through blood transfusion.

Three other people also received organs from the woman. The CDC said two of them have the virus and have developed encephalitis. West Nile virus has not been confirmed in the third person, who is recovering at home from a milder infection.

Health officials say the organ recipients could have contracted the virus from mosquitoes, but that is unlikely.

Meanwhile, authorities are recalling blood from more than 60 blood donors to see if any is tainted with West Nile virus.

But federal officials say people should not stop giving blood or getting transfusions. They say the risk of contracting the virus from a transfusion, if it exists, would be minimal.

And America's Blood Centers President-elect Dr. Louis Katz said West Nile virus is not an important worry for people receiving blood transfusions.

Federal officials say they are speeding development of a blood test to detect the virus.

No blood test currently exists for West Nile virus, even for patients who are showing symptoms of the mosquito-borne disease. Patients are now diagnosed based on their immune response to the virus over 15 days.

Acting Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Lester Crawford said coming up with a quick blood test is a priority.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2002

Answers

Like the good little doomer that I am, i think this is more serious than they're letting on. By the way, I tried the catnip spray yesterday and it didn't work. Probly not concentrated enough.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2002

I've rubbed fresh catnip on my, and the cat's love me...but so do the sketters!

found 4 dead birds here (around my barn)

and there was the most sickly looking cardinal at the feeded today..it was sad, I wonder if it had it!

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2002