Has WEST NILE Hit Your Area ?

[MegalosSkylaki]

In 1999, West Nile disease made its unseamly appearance in NYC--not a center of mosquitoes by any means.

Now its been reported in 34 or so States.

Louisiana is especially hard hit.

I remember hearing the helicopters spraying various neighborhoods, usually late at night as more people would be inside. Trucks were also used.

Poultry was used as 'markers' of the disease as it is primarily an avian disease. The were caged in various parts of the City and bloods were serially drawn.

Has the disease hit your neck of the woods yet ?

(I hate to use the word "yet" )

MegalosSkylaki

Kind of. We have our own local mosquito-borne virus problems:

Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus
Kunjin Virus (which is said to be WNV-like)
Ross River Virus

and a host of others not native to Australia like dengue and JE.

Cheers
Mick

[bigblue77]

Its hit Michigan, but its only been found in (dead) birds thus far.

Jer

[Martoch]

Last year a few dead birds in our county were found to have been victims of the west nile virus...very scary stuff! Nothing this year so far, we're praying it stays that way.

[flash4master]

Texas has been hit...10 known human cases so far...

[Brainchild]

not yet not ever I hope. I heard this on the radio earlier and you beat me to the post Dooooog
Makes you think twice about misquitos huh?

[zgf2022]

i guess now is not the time to live in the swamp known as east texas!

ahh well

"what me worry?"

[MikeHof]

They found a dead Blue Jay w/ it here in my county last week.

[Sweet]

Those critters love me. I'd get bit walking to the mailbox. I have not been going outside when it'd dark. We have had way too many cases within 20 miles, some just a couple miles away.
I really dislike using chemicals on my skin! It's hard to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when it's in the 90's with high humidity and full sun! (Well sun after Tropical Storm Bertha, that is....)
We have ditches along the road, streams, bayous, Lake Pontchatrain close, and surrounded by people with acre-sized ponds. We have had so much rain, it's been a pain to cut the lawn. I do let my older dog in at night, but keep the other monsters outside. I hardly ever see a dead bird. I will find feet and feathers once in a while. I'm assuming that Cardinals are real tasty.
I have enough to worry about, so we just try to be as careful as possible and drain water. I dislike telling kids not to go into the treed area of the yard, but I have been doing that.
The West Nile Virus is here to stay and it's area covers half the nation. Hopefully someone is working on a vaccine.....

[Sweet]

update: 14 new cases in SE LA today. Seven cases in the 3 closest Parishes (County)......