Wednesday, July 18, 2001
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Wednesday, July 18, 2001 |
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Forum on West Nile virus is next week Could the West Nile virus invade Fayette County? It's possible, according to health officials who will conduct a local forum on the disease next week. Last week's discovery in north Georgia of a dead bird that carried the virus has stepped up concerns. Last summer most of the nation became aware of the virus because of the cases of encephalitis it caused in the New York area. Last year, though, the geographic range of this vector-borne virus was found to have increased to include 12 states, including two close to Georgia: Virginia and North Carolina. The Fayette County Health Department, District 4, Georgia Public Health Services and Fayette Community Hospital have come together in an effort to bring information to local residents about this possible threat. "We would also like the opportunity to inform you about some of the surveillance/prevention elements already in place, and encourage dialog regarding the effective use of current community resources to provide prevention and education to our citizens," said Cynthia Grant, county nurse manager. This public health forum will be at the Fayette Community Hospital meeting room (in the first floor administrative wing) Thursday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to noon. Members of the medical community, fire and EMS personnel, and the local governments have been invited. The agenda will include a presentation on WNV by Catherine A. Rebmann, MPH, from the Georgia Division of Public Health- Office of Infectious Disease. Also presenting will be Jesse Hobbs, Ph.D., medical entomologist (retired); and representatives from DeKalb County Environmental Health to discuss the programs and practices they have found effective. Humans, birds and horses become infected by the bite of mosquitoes infected with WNV. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. These infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood. Infection in humans and animals caused by WNV can result in encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can be a serious medical condition, said Grant. Most infections are mild, however, and symptoms may include fever, headache and body aches, and occasionally skin rash and swollen lymph glands. More severe infections are marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness, tremor, convulsions, paralysis and, rarely, death. Since the summer of 1999, 79 human cases of West Nile encephalitis have been reported. Persons older than 50 years appear to have the highest risk of severe disease, Grant said. Because the disease is spread by the migration of infected birds and mosquitoes (that need water to breed), scientists believe that there is a good possibility that WNV may spread into Georgia, said Grant. Georgia is a major migration route for birds traveling north. Georgia boasts more than 350 species of birds and also has a subtropical climate with more than 700 miles of swamp land in the Okefenokee Swamp alone; a 100-mile coastline, and a 2,344-mile shoreline that can provide excellent mosquito breeding grounds. Therefore, a comprehensive surveillance and control project was begun in 2000, in which the Georgia Division of Public Health is actively engaged. Early detection will best enable Georgia to prevent outbreaks. To that end, active human surveillance, surveillance through mosquito control programs, and provisions for the collection and testing of dead birds is in full operation. A special congressional appropriation provided funds for the implementation of this enhanced WNV surveillance and control project. Currently, the project includes Georgia and 18 other states along the eastern, southeastern, and southern coasts.
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