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By Emma Patten-Hitt
NEW
YORK (Reuters Health) - Mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV),
which can cause mild flu-like symptoms but can sometimes
be fatal, is already more widespread in the United States
than it was last year, researchers report.
``We
know that the virus has spread and will continue to spread,
`` Dr. Lyle Petersen with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, in Atlanta, told Reuters Health. ``For all
we can tell, nothing is going to stop it from spreading
throughout the entire US,'' he added.
The
latest statistics on the spread of West Nile virus were
published in the November 24th issue of the CDC journal
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
According
to the CDC in 1999 the virus was detected in four states--Connecticut,
Maryland, New Jersey, and New York.
By 2000,
however, viral activity in birds and/or mosquitoes was reported
from 12 states--Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia, and the District of
Columbia.
West
Nile Virus first appeared in the continental US in New York
City in September of last year. In rare cases, infection
with the virus, which is transmitted through bites from
infected mosquitoes, develops into an inflammation of the
brain, called encephalitis and can be fatal.
``There's
absolutely no way to predict what will happen next year,''
said Petersen. ``One of the problems with WNV is that it
is unpredictable.''
``There
may be more potential for humans to become infected in future
years than currently,'' said Petersen, who advised that
during the summer months people take precautions to avoid
mosquito bites by wearing mosquito repellent, long sleeve
shirts or pants and avoiding being outside at times around
dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are more active.
He also
suggested that people should try to eliminate mosquito breeding
grounds on their own property. ``Mosquitoes don't fly very
far and so just by getting rid of mosquito breeding areas
on your own property can do a lot to reduce your risk.''
Ways
to reduce the number of mosquitoes include: making sure
gutters aren't clogged, making sure the screens are in good
repair, and draining any sources of water in yards.
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