The Facts About Mosquitoes And West Nile Virus
2009 West Nile Virus Activity
About Mosquitoes
- Mosquitoes belong to the Diptera family, also known as True Flies. There are over 2,000 species worldwide, 200 species in the Unites States and 71 species in Florida alone!
- Mosquitoes identify people by their scent and are attracted by the carbon dioxide humans exhale.
- Men are thought to be mosquitoes' meal of choice as they produce more heat, carbon dioxide and more insect-appealing lactic acid because they have more muscle mass.
- Female mosquitoes seek human blood to nourish their eggs. Some experts believe lactic acid also plays a role in attracting insects.
- Studies show that mosquitoes are attracted by color as well as scent. Primary colors are a poor choice for bug infested areas whereas khaki and neutral colors conceal human prey a bit better from these annoying pests.
- Mosquitoes require water to complete their lifecycle which can take as little as seven days. Eggs can be laid directly on the water's surface or on moist soil. The larvae filter water to feed on organic debris.
About West Nile
- West Nile Virus is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa , West Asia , and the Middle East. In recent years it has appeared in temperate regions of Europe and North America , presenting a threat to human and animal health. WNV been a significant cause of human illness in the United States since 2002.
- In 2009 alone, there have been 30 WNV-related deaths in the United States that have been recorded by the Center for Disease Control.
- Humans contract the virus when bit by mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies that have fed on infected animals. The incubation period is 5-15 days, and the disease is passed through saliva.
- The most severe type of disease when infected with West Nile Virus is sometimes called "neuroinvasive disease" because it affects a person's nervous system. Specific types of neuroinvasive disease include: West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile meningoencephalitis.
- West Nile Fever can occur in people who become infected with the virus. It is characterized by fever, headache, tiredness, aches and sometimes rash. Although the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have been sick for several weeks.
- All residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; persons over 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease. It is unknown if immunocompromised persons are at increased risk for WNV disease.
2009 West Nile Virus Activity, United States
Case Counts and Fatalities
(Reported to CDC as of December 8, 2009)
Click here for detailed list
| State |
Total |
Fatalities |
Arizona |
18 |
0 |
Arkansas |
4 |
1 |
California |
103 |
4 |
Colorado |
101 |
3 |
Florida |
3 |
0 |
Georgia |
4 |
1 |
Idaho |
37 |
2 |
Illinois |
4 |
0 |
Indiana |
4 |
1 |
Iowa |
5 |
0 |
Kansas |
10 |
0 |
Kentucky |
3 |
0 |
Louisiana |
20 |
0 |
Maryland |
2 |
1 |
Minnesota |
4 |
0 |
Mississippi |
52 |
4 |
Missouri |
3 |
0 |
Montana |
5 |
0 |
Nebraska |
51 |
0 |
Nevada |
12 |
0 |
New Jersey |
2 |
0 |
New Mexico |
8 |
1 |
New York |
6 |
0 |
North Dakota |
1 |
0 |
Ohio |
2 |
0 |
Oklahoma |
8 |
1 |
Oregon |
7 |
0 |
South Carolina |
3 |
0 |
South Dakota |
21 |
0 |
Tennessee |
7 |
1 |
Texas |
104 |
8 |
Washington |
36 |
1 |
Wisconsin |
1 |
0 |
Wyoming |
12 |
1 |
| Totals |
663 |
30 |
Source: Center for Disease Control
CONTACT:
Pauline O'Keeffe
The Schawbel Corporation
781-541-6900
pauline@thermacell.net
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