West Nile Virus Active and Spreading in Ohio

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So far 20 or so people have died of West Nile Virus here in Ohio, many in the suburbs of Cleveland where my parents live, I strongly suspect that all those overlooked and in need of more chlorine swimming pools(there seems to be one in every back yard, that, and a trapoline, it must be THE yuppie things to have!!!) are the reason that there so many cases in that area! Mosquito heaven in all those kind-of-stagnant waters!

About that many horses have been affected and have either died or have been put down, there have been no equine survivors of the disease here in our state so far. Luckily, none have been in any counties near ours here in S.E. Ohio, and, we have very, very few mosquitos at all, although I have been twice the past two evenings, which is really strange. I can go all summer and fall and not get bitten even once, so I'm beginning to wonder "what gives" with the sudden appearance of the little biting buggers ;-)!!! It is as dry as the desert here, no stagnant waters about, the creeks are all dried up, the improved springs are full of frogs that eat any and all mosquito larvae up in a nano second or less, so where are the darned things coming from???

There is a vaccine available for the horses, from the vet only, but it costs $20, and you need to administer it twice, a month apart, to be effective. With four horses, one of them pregnant ( don't really want to administer something that new to a pregnant mare anyway), that would be really beyond what our animal budget can support right now. Especially since four cats "appeared" and are now additional members of the critter family to feed, worm, and have neutered and spayed, although one is a neutered male, much to our luck!!!

I have decided to wait till next spring and see if West Nile Virus is going to remain endemic in the area, or if it disappears. Mosquito season is almost over this year.

Have you given your horses the vaccine, and/or, do you have the virus in your neck of the woods???

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2002

Answers

West Nile is in southern Wisconsin too, Annie. I suppose it's just a matter of time before it moves to the northern parts. I believe Julie got all our horses innoculated this year. Seventeen confirmed cases in horses in this area -- coming fairly close on the heels of confirmation of CWD in the local deer herd makes this even less pleasant!!

I went all summer without any skeeter bites either, but they've been coming around recently. Doggie and I stay out of the woods. I did get a package of three mosquito repellers -- run on batteries, emit a high pitched whine. Some people find it irritating, but it doesn't bother me. Found a mosquito in the house the other day and chased it around with the repeller. As I would move closer to it, it would move away. I don't think they're guaranteed, but they help. Made by Sunbeam, I got mine at Walgreens (drug store in case anyone doesn't know).

I haven't heard any reports that West Nile is in Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan -- all should have gotten it before or at the same time as Wisconsin. But I might have missed the reports. There was a crow found dead of the disease last fall, now this summer we're getting infected horses. Don't know if any humans have gotten it yet. I only watch the news sporadically, so I miss a lot!

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2002


We have it here in Indiana too. Only 2 human deaths that I know of, I don't know about horses.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2002

Hi Annie, We're starting to find dead birds in north central Pa. now, within 20 miles of our home. I have been spending a lot of time this summer out in the remote areas of our county (Potter County, Pa.),and yes getting bitten frequently by mesquitos. Maybe it's time to get a little more cautious. Pass the deet please?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2002

There you are, woodsbilly! Welcome back! HEY WILDMAN! LOOK! Another guy! :-D

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2002

Yup, Joy is right. I got them all innoculated. I can't remember the exact figures that Mike gave me on how effective it is, but I figured that it was better than no protection at all, given that if you look at a map of the area, there is more water than dry land in our area. Not to mention all those old flowerpots standing around, discarded tires, etc., with standing water in them. I have not been stinting on the fly sprays this year. I even have given thought to some of the mondo-humungo new mosquito catcher units that mimic mammalian lures (CO2 and heat) and suck them in, despite the price tag. I figure since the horses are in the barn at night, it would be relatively effective. But the price tag is still giving me cause to pause and wonder just how good they are.

On the alarming side, California has just had it's first confirmed West Nile case. Human type.

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2002



Woodsbilly, am I glad to see another guy on here. We (the men) seem to be losing the battle of the sexes lately! And, believe it or not, they're showing no mercy! Vicious! Wonder where they learned that?

Please stick around. We don't want your money, just your support.

Wildman, (feelin' better now)

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2002


We had a confirmed human death in the next county - 79 year old Amish lady. Close to home. I just come inside in the evening hours - nothin' I need to be doing outside then!

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2002

Ummm - I somehow always thought woodsbilly was female. The Coleen in the e-mail, I guess. So now you're gonna have to 'fess up, Woodsbilly - which one are you?!

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2002

We've had a couple of cases of WNV in Texas, with a couple of deaths in east Texas. We've had a confirmed case in our neck of the woods, and even Mexico recently had their first confirmed case / death; I think it was in a region near Cancun. Yes, it does seem to be spreading more and more, doesn't it?

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2002

Yes, it's in Michigan. In my county (Allegan) all the horses that have been diagnosed have died, tho the brochure says the fatality rate for horses is only 40%. I have not vaccinated yet, because of finances. I'd be looking at several hundred dollars for the dozen equines I've got here. Will start saving for next spring.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2002


With the virus now present in our upper Midwest area, I wonder if there will be any push to have lower cost vaccinations. I would seem to make sense. If there are more animals getting the virus, won't the virus spread faster?

Ugh. I just read an article about organ recipients and transfusion recipients getting the virus. Sounds like there are more ways to spread this than they thought, although nothing official has been stated.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2002


Hmmmmm.........the CDC says that as of today (9/9) there have been 43 total deaths in the US due to West Nile, 5 of them in Ohio.

There's not much of it here; 5 cases, old people. No deaths. Lots of horses seem to have it though. I cannot imagine myself worrying about mosquitoes, they are such a part of life here. It's our state bird, after all. We have water everywhere, and with this summer raining at least every other day, there are more even than usual. Nary a day goes by without a bite or three.

Chronic wasting disease in deer is upsetting to me, not cuz I'm scared of it but cuz it may decimate the deer population. No doubt this is another case of the environmental chickens coming home to roost. Even living as a wild creature in the woods isnt safe from earth's degradation anymore; it stinks, and I'm guessing its only the beginning of weird diseases popping up.

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2002


The wierd thing is that the local Cleveland newspaper (The Plain Dealer) keeps reporting new cases of WNV, and keeps track of the mounting death toll, and they have almost 20 deaths right there in the Cleveland area alone, I think the discrepancy must be that it takes so long for the confirmation test form the CDC to come back, and I don't think that all the cases have been confirmed yet, that plus the test is extremely expensive, I think some cases are getting overlooked due to expense. But the local paper misses none of the new cases or deaths, either that, or the CDC and heath folks are outright LYING to us. Could be that too, don't want to really scare the bejabers out of anyone, you know, we all just might panic in the streets or something. I really think that the health people must think we are all a bunch of blooming idiots incapable of sound and reasonable thinking, they make me sooo mad sometimes ;-)!!!

Great to finally "see" you Shannon!!!! Hope all the critters are doing good and are fat and happy!!!

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2002


The paper here today says there's 46 probable human cases in Indiana but only 1 has been confirmed so far. The CDC has been so swamped that there's at least a month's backlog with confirmation testing. The article also said that the virus becomes more concentrated in mosquitos as the season progresses, so the end of summer is the most dangerous time for contracting the virus.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2002

I just checked the Purdue University School of Agriculture website. According to them, as of Aug 21st there were 8 cases of equine WNV in Indiana. Four of them were in the southwest part of the state, it didn't give a location for the other four. They're recommending that all horses be vaccinated now and get a booster in the spring.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2002


OK, Just for the reord: Woodsbilly is an overweight, unshaved, in need of fumigation, hairy, unkempt, lazy, snoring, nocount, balding male in search of the real meaning of life!!!! Coleen is my 'puter literate better half, who has chosen sleeping quarters in the other end of the house! Wildman, I hope we can share some common ground here, back to back, always forward looking! Peace be with you.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

Ooops! (she says, while slinking away in utter and complete embarrassment) Sorry 'bout that! Welcome, big guy! Wildman, hope you're happy!

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

{hee hee hee!}

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002

We have it here in NS too. One reported death. There was an editorial cartoon in the paper today about it because of the furor. it was actually rather funny and somewhat true because in a funny way it pointed out that the flu is much more a health risk (kills a lot more people and is much more contagious). Guess its the devil ya know as opposed to the unfamiliar that seems less threatening.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2002

Second confirmed death in Wisconsin (human, that is) yesterday. Elderly person.

Glad to see you Alison! I was thinking about sending out the posse!

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2002


According to the Maine West Nile Virus website, six birds have tested positive so far this year. There have been no human deaths or infections reported. Not sure about horse infections or deaths. Thank goodness the skeeters have just about disappeared around here for this year!! I have bats in my bathouse now...maybe they've helped!??

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2002

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