West Nile Virus has Spread to 43 States; Aerial Spraying is Killing Honeybees, Vital to the Food Supply

Since there is no cure and no vaccine for West Nile, the best hope of slowing the outbreak may be inside a laboratory in Fort Collins, Colo. Researchers at the CDC's Division of Vector Borne Illnesses are working to track this mysterious disease. Scientists sort mosquitoes gathered in the field by species and by sex, since only females bite humans. The bugs are ground up so that they can be tested for the virus, telling researchers how fast it is spreading, and where pesticides should be used and whether or not they are working. When used correctly, the pesticides are highly effective at killing off mosquitoes. But aerial spraying in cities such as Dallas has led to a backlash from residents who worry that the spraying may be dangerous. Dr. Lyle Petersen, the director of the CDC's Division of Vector Borne Illnesses, is the man leading the government's battle against West Nile and maintains that spraying is safe. "The EPA has looked at all of this, and has deemed these pesticides as being safe, Petersen told ABC's Dr. Richard Besser during a visit to the CDC lab in Fort Collins. "We found no increased respiratory illness, or any other kind of illness," he said. "That's not unexpected, because the amount of pesticides used is often less than one ounce per acre. It's minuscule." [Source]

Bees & Spraying for West Nile

August 16, 2012

CBSDFW.COM – Ground and aerial pesticides are expected to help kill off mosquitoes carrying the dreaded West Nile Virus. But, the pesticides could also affect another important insect, one that's vital to our food supply.

If you eat, you can thank a honeybee.

"In order for us to have food, we must have pollinators," Brandon Pollard said.

One third of honey bee colonies in North America began mysteriously disappearing two years ago. In North Texas, honeybees face a new threat.

The same pesticides that kill mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus can kill honeybees.

"We already know we've lost thousands," Pollard said.

Brandon and Susan Pollard are founders of The Texas Honeybee Guild. The Pollards say they have already lost one colony in the Junius Heights District when ground spraying started in the area a couple of weeks ago.

The Pollards took video of their dying colony and posted it on their Facebook page.

"Writhing on the ground. And, they really do look like they've been put through a neurotoxin. It's not a pretty sight," Susan Pollard said.

The Pollards think the spray may have fallen on some of the honeybees, or some of the bees drank pesticide tainted water and brought it back to the rest of the colony.

"They will share their food and within 24 or 48 hours, 80-percent of those bees have shared that and they will be gone like the ones that we have witnessed," said Susan Pollard.

The Pollards have begun covering their colonies with large, cardboard boxes to protect them from nightly ground or aerial pesticide sprays. They have to uncover them every morning to cool them off and allow them to go for a drink of water.

The Pollards admit it is too early to tell what ground and aerial pesticides will do to the North Texas Honeybee. But the Pollards call honeybees an "indicator species."

"An indicator species is like the canary in the Coal mine," Susan Pollard said.

"This would be like if the red light on your car was not going off when it needed to go off to tell you, you know, something's wrong here," she added.

The Pollards warn if we lose the honeybees, we could also lose food production or even insects that could help protect the environment.

"We don't want to be messing with Texas or our ecosystem in Texas," Susan Pollard sad.

While the Pollards could lose their workforce, they are stopping short of calling it a potential catastrophe.

"The catastrophe to me would be that we think this is the way to approach the future when we want to be green, progressive, and draw people to come and live in this city," Susan Pollard said.

But, the Pollards are already thinking of next year, hoping local leaders take early action to rid areas that of mosquito breeding grounds without having to resort to pesticides.

Clarke, the company that manufactures the aerial spray called "Duet," said there are many reasons for a "colony collapse." But it admits the aerial spray could be toxic to honeybees.However, the company says it tries to minimize the impact on "non target species" by using a less concentrated formula than the ground spray and by spraying late at night when honeybees are in their hives.

West Nile Virus Spreading Across U.S.

August 14, 2012

Examiner.com - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated information today on the spread of the West Nile virus in the country. They noted that as of today, 43 states are now reporting West Nile virus infections in people, birds and mosquito's.

A total of 693 cases involving people have been documented, with 26 deaths reported to the CDC. Of the total cases, 403 (59%) were neuroinvasive, resulting in meningitis or encephalitis. The rest of the cases, 41%, are considered noninvasive, acting more like a flu-like illness.

The 693 cases reported so far in 2012 is considered to be the highest number of cases reported to the CDC through this week in August since the West Nile virus was detected in the U.S. in 1999.

Eighty percent of the cases come from 6 states, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and California. Of these cases, half are from Texas. In Dallas County, Texas, public health officials have declared an emergency with 175 cases there alone.

First discovered in Africa in 1973, West Nile virus didn't show up in the United States until 1999. It spread from New York across the country rather quickly, infecting animals, birds and mosquitoes, alike.

The virus cannot be caught from another person, and people can only become infected if bitten by a mosquito that's infected with the virus. Not all mosquitoes carry the virus, either. People are at the greatest risk of infection from a bite from July-September, and in some states, year-round.

People most at risk of infection are those over 50 years of age, and those with impaired immune systems. Kids with normal immune systems rarely get very sick, usually showing mild flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of the West Nile virus resemble the flu. There is fever, headache, neck and back stiffness, as well as muscle aches, tiredness, swollen glands and a rash. In the worst-case scenario, the infection could turn into meningitis or encephalitis, an irritation and swelling of the brain.

The best prevention from contracting West Nile virus is to stay away from standing water, where mosquitoes breed, and to avoid working or playing outside during the early morning or early evening. These are the times when mosquitoes are most often swarming.

Insect repellents are a good idea, too. Repellents that contain DEET, lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin are best. Another thing that helps is to wear socks, long sleeves and long pants when out where mosquitoes are known to be in an area.

Second West Nile Virus Case Confirmed in Maryland

August 16, 2012

CBSDC - A second case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Maryland.

A 70-year-old is suffering from swelling of the brain after being infected by the virus. The location where the patient was infected has not been given, although the first West Nile case surfaced in central Maryland in July.

The Centers for Disease Control says 26 people have died from West Nile across 43 different states from a total of 700 confirmed cases this year.

Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser says there are some precautions to take to lower the risk of contracting the disease from mosquitoes, like spraying on bug repellant and covering up skin with more clothing. He says to also get rid of standing water, which is a breeding ground for mosquito activity, so get rid of that around your house.

Concerns of the spread of the virus have gotten so severe that some states are considering the use of aerial spraying.

Mike Raupp, of the University of Maryland College of Agriculture, told “CBS This Morning, the “combination of birds carrying the virus, the high population of mosquitoes, high temperatures and wet conditions, as well as a susceptible population, have made the situation possible.”

New York and Massachusetts have already done aerial spraying to successfully reduce the mosquito population by 60 percent.

The situation is perhaps the worst in the state of Texas, however, with 10 deaths and 200 illnesses in Dallas alone.

The most susceptible populations are areas with a high concentration of senior citizen-aged adults. Raupp says people over 50 years of age are at the greatest risk.