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West Nile Virus Becoming Less Prevalent in Tri-State

Posted on: Wednesday, 12 October 2005, 06:02 CDT

By Mark Hansel

Despite the death of a Kenton County, Ky., woman that has been preliminarily attributed to West Nile virus, area health officials say the illness is becoming less prevalent in the region.

The elderly woman, whose name has not been released, was the first person to die from the virus in Kentucky since 2003. The virus is contracted through mosquito bites.

"As the virus moves further west we are starting to see a trend toward a decrease in the number of cases after the first year," said Emily Gresham Wherle of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department.

Health department officials say increased education and awareness and the nature of the disease contribute to the trend.

"People can get bitten by a mosquito and get a minor illness or not get sick at all," explains Dr. Larry Holditch of the Cincinnati Heath Department.

Most people in fact have no idea they have contracted the virus. Holditch said in populations where the virus has been studied, only about 10 percent of the people develop symptoms.

"People who have been exposed can develop antibodies which make them resistant to the illness," said Holditch. "Over time most of the population could even develop an immunity."

Statistics from the United States Center for Disease Control seem to back that up.

West Nile virus was first identified in the United States on the East Coast in 1999. In 2002, the first year local cases were identified, the tri-state had a major outbreak of the virus, with Ohio reporting 441 human cases and 31 deaths. Kentucky saw 75 human cases with five deaths that year.

Last year those numbers had dropped to 12 cases in Ohio and two deaths, and seven cases in Kentucky, with no deaths.

As the virus has moved westward across the United States the trend of a high number of cases initially followed by a sharp drop- off has remained consistent.

Wherle said people have also become more informed about the virus and they are taking preventive measures. An increased use of mosquito repellents and larvicide pellets, combined with avoiding areas with high mosquito populations has helped.

Officials said the low baseline probably will remain because some groups, such as the elderly and people with immune system diseases, will always be at risk.

"The risk for people in these groups that have never been exposed remains a threat," said Holditch.

While mosquito activity is not very high right now, officials say there is still a risk of the virus until the first hard frost of the year.

"Even for a few weeks after that people should be cautious, because symptoms can take a while to develop," said Holditch.

Pools of standing water, such as pool covers and clogged gutters, are places where mosquitoes are likely to be found. Early morning and early evening, just before dusk, are peak times for mosquito activity.

Source: Cincinnati Post

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