DOE -- Medical and Infectious Disease Update -- Wednesday, August 27,
2003

DOE weekly updates on SARS, West Nile Virus, or other illnesses will
continue as appropriate or as requested. The following information is
current as of Thursday, August 28, 2003, 0700 hours, EDT. Information
presented is routinely taken from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC),
[http://www.cdc.gov/](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm), The
World Health Organization (WHO),
[http://www.who.int/en/](http://www.who.int/csr/sars/en/), the
Department of Defense Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and
Response System site, (DoD-GEIS)-<http://www.geis.ha.osd.mil/>, and
other creditable sources.

**Recent news**

**CDC-MMWR,** August 22, 2003 **- influenza vaccination supple is
adequate**. Therefore, influenza vaccination can proceed for all
high-risk and healthy persons, individually and through mass campaigns,
as soon as vaccine is available.
<http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5233a6.htm>

## 21 August 2003 - WHO-Joint mission on SARS animal reservoir and necessary next steps. A joint team of specialists from the Chinese government, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in China to investigate the animal reservoir of the SARS coronavirus, has issued a series of recommendations and actions necessary not only to identify the disease's animal reservoir, but to contain any future outbreaks - [**http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/prchina2/en/**](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2003/prchina2/en/)

## 

**[Findings](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23390-2003Aug20.html) -
Angioplasties Much More Successful Than Drugs**

Thursday, August 21, 2003, *By Jeff Donn,* Associated Press Writer ...
BOSTON ---- Emergency angioplasties, even delayed by hospital transfer,
worked better than standard drugs in a heart attack study likely to help
change standards for treating the 1.1 million Americans stricken every
year \...
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23390-2003Aug20.html>

**CDC West Nile Virus Home Page** -
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm>

**Three Ways to Reduce your West Nile Virus Risk:**

[Avoid Mosquito
Bites](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm#1);
[Mosquito-Proof Your
Home](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm#mosquitoproof);
[Help Your
Community](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm#community)

 

**CDC West Nile Virus Statistics, Surveillance, and Control\
**[Maps and
Data](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control03Maps.htm)
\| [Surveillance
Program](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm#surveillance)
\|
[Guidelines](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm#guidelines)
\| [Case
Definition](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm#casedefinition)
\| [See
Also](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&control.htm#seealso)

**CDC West Nile Virus Case Count**

**Wednesday, August 27, 2003** -
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&controlCaseCount03.htm> -

As of August 27, 2003, there were 1442 cases and 21deaths reported from
34 states. **This represents an increase of 727 cases and 7 deaths since
last Wednesday (see chart on p. 3).**

  -------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------
  **State**            **Human Cases\* Reported to CDC**        **Deaths**

  **Alabama**          **14**                                   **2**

  **Arizona**          **1**                                    

  **Arkansas**         **5**                                    

  **Colorado**         **635**                                  **6**

  **Connecticut**      **1**                                    

  **Florida**          **4**                                    

  **Georgia**          **3**                                    

  **Illinois**         **2**                                    

  **Iowa**             **11**                                   

  **Kansas**           **14**                                   **1**

  **Kentucky**         **3**                                    

  **Louisiana**        **30**                                   

  **Maryland**         **2**                                    

  **Massachusetts**    **1**                                    

  **Minnesota**        **13**                                   

  **Mississippi**      **20**                                   **1**

  **Missouri**         **2**                                    

  **Montana**          **19**                                   

  **Nebraska**         **190**                                  **4**

  **New Jersey**       **2**                                    

  **New Mexico**       **41**                                   **2**

  **New York**         **1**                                    

  **North Carolina**   **2**                                    

  **North Dakota**     **28**                                   

  **Ohio**             **11**                                   **1**

  **Oklahoma**         **12**                                   

  **Pennsylvania**     **27**                                   

  **South Carolina**   **1**                                    

  **South Dakota**     **204**                                  **2**

  **Tenessee**         **3**                                    

  **Texas**            **106**                                  **2**

  **Virginia**         **2**                                    

  **Wisconsin**        **1**                                    

  **Wyoming**          **31**                                   

  **Total  **          **1442**                                 **21**
  -------------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------

![](media/image1.png){width="4.967361111111111in"
height="2.852777777777778in"}

![](media/image2.wmf){width="6.819444444444445in"
height="4.170138888888889in"}

![](media/image3.png){width="5.0in" height="0.75in"}\
[*U.S. Geological Survey*](http://www.usgs.gov/) -
<http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/>

# West Nile Virus Maps - 2003

![](media/image4.gif){width="1.1458333333333333in"
height="0.8333333333333334in"}

[2002 West Nile Maps (CINDI
Website)](http://cindi.usgs.gov/hazard/event/west_nile/)

### The following links provide other information on the West Nile Virus: 

##### [**USGS West Nile Virus Page**](http://www.usgs.gov/west_nile_virus.html); [**USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin**](http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/westnil2.html); [**USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure West Nile Virus Page**](http://www.nbii.gov/issues/invasive/wnv/)

**West Nile Virus Interactive Map** -- If you go to this site, each
State will be 'HOT', and moving your mouse on a State will link you to
its Health Department's West Nile web site and bring up other
information. Where the CDC map and case summery is a lagging indicator,
this map, linked to each State's Health Department, provides real-time
information for those states which update regularly, such as PA and CO.
**<http://www.mosquitoczar.com/west_nile_virus>.**

**West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know\
CDC Factsheet** -
<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factSheet.htm>

**What Is West Nile Virus?**\
West Nile virus (WNV) is a potentially serious illness. Experts believe
WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares
up in the summer and continues into the fall. This fact sheet contains
important information that can help you recognize and prevent West Nile
virus.

**What Are the Symptoms of WNV?**\
WNV affects the central nervous system. Symptoms vary.

-   **No Symptoms in Most People**. Approximately 80 percent of people
    who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

-   **Mild Symptoms in Some People.** Up to 20 percent of the people who
    become infected will display mild symptoms, including fever,
    headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen
    lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms
    typically last a few days.

-   **Serious Symptoms in a Few People**. About one in 150 people
    infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms
    can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor,
    disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision
    loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks,
    and neurological effects may be permanent.

**How Does It Spread?**

-   **Infected Mosquitoes.** Generally, WNV is spread by the bite of an
    infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are WNV carriers that become infected
    when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then
    spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.

-   **Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child.** In a very small
    number of cases, WNV also has spread through blood transfusions,
    organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from
    mother to baby.

-   **Not through touching.** WNV is not spread through casual contact
    such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.

**How Soon Do Infected People Get Sick?**\
People typically develop symptoms between 3 and 14 days after they are
bitten by the infected mosquito.

**How Is WNV Infection Treated?**\
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. In cases with mild
symptoms, people experience symptoms such as fever and aches that pass
on their own. In more severe cases, people usually need to go to the
hospital where they can receive supportive treatment including
intravenous fluids, help with breathing and nursing care.

**What Should I Do if I Think I Have WNV?**\
Mild WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not necessarily need
to seek medical attention for this infection. If you develop symptoms of
severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion,
seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires
hospitalization. Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to
talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV.

**What Is the Risk of Catching WNV?**\
**For most, risk is low.** Less than 1 percent of people who are bitten
by mosquitoes develop any symptoms of the disease and relatively few
mosquitoes actually carry WNV.

**Greater risk for those outdoors a lot.** People who spend a lot of
time outdoors are more likely to be bitten by an infected mosquito. They
should take special care to avoid mosquito bites.

**People over 50 can get sicker.** People over the age of 50 are more
likely to develop serious symptoms of WNV if they do get sick and should
take special care to avoid mosquito bites.

**Risk through medical procedures is low.** The risk of getting WNV
through blood transfusions and organ transplants is very small, and
should not prevent people who need surgery from having it. If you have
concerns, talk to your doctor before surgery.

**Pregnancy and nursing do not increase risk of becoming infected with
WNV.**

**What Can I Do to Prevent WNV?**\
The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.

-   When you are outdoors, use insect repellents containing DEET (N,
    N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Follow the directions on the package.

-   Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Consider staying
    indoors during these times or use insect repellent and wear long
    sleeves and pants. Light-colored clothing can help you see
    mosquitoes that land on you.

-   Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep
    mosquitoes out.

-   Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from
    flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and
    replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill drainage holes in tire
    swings so water drains out. Keep children\'s wading pools empty and
    on their sides when they aren\'t being used.

**What Is the CDC Doing About WNV?**\
CDC is working with state and local health departments, the Food and
Drug Administration and other government agencies, as well as private
industry, to prepare for and prevent new cases of WNV.

*Some things CDC is doing include:*

-   Coordinating a nation-wide electronic database where states share
    information about WNV

-   Helping states develop and carry out improved mosquito prevention
    and control programs

-   Developing better, faster tests to detect and diagnose WNV

-   Creating new education tools and programs for the media, the public,
    and health professionals

-   Opening new testing laboratories for WNV

**What Else Should I Know?**\
\
**If you find a dead bird:** Don\'t handle the body with your bare
hands. Contact your local health department for instructions on
reporting and disposing of the body.

**For more information call the CDC public response hotline\
at (888) 246-2675 (English), (888) 246-2857 (Español), or (866) 874-2646
(TTY)**