West Nile Virus, the Future Epidemic?

According to the health care compliance company, the growing number or reported cases for the west nile virus is causing concern over the possibility of becoming the next nationwide epidemic.

Without a doubt, everyone knows the best time to relax is outside on a summer night. With a nice warm breeze and the sun going down, it just seems like a utopia. OK, lets get to reality. Unless you live in the middle of a field, people these days can not even enjoy their own back yard at night anymore due to the growing threat of mosquitoes. It has been nearly a decade that the virus known as " West Nile," had became increasingly a threat in the United States and with this, people do not even want to go outside when these bugs come out because any one bite could possibly be deadly.

So why is this year any more dangerous than the past? It has only just reached the end of July, not even the peak of summer or the mosquito season, and the numbers of confirmed cases has already risen dramatically. A report was put together on July 24 with the totals so far for this year. In all, the CDC recorded a total of 122 human West Nile Virus infections in 17 states so far this year. Remarkable only three have died. So, with so little number of deaths, what is there to worry about? The fear is increased simply because the number of recorded cases is also increased. By an increases in the number of cases already in July, one can only imagine what is going to be happening in late August and into early fall when the peak of the West Nile infection occurs. Disease specialists do not know yet but they say that an epidemic is possible.

So should we get ready now and board up our windows and stay inside? The answer is no. Just be a little more noticeable of when the mosquitoes come out and try to avoid them. As far as an epidemic is concerned, researchers have said it could be likely, but since the disease is controllable, nobody should really fear. Less than one percent of people who contract this disease actually face life threatening conditions. The most common effects of the West Nile Virus are known as "West Nile fever," which symptoms include high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and a rash on the abdomen and back. Others may get a high fever, headache, seizures, and even a coma.

As for the rise in cases so far this year, that may also just be a rise in the reported cases compared to what is unreported in previous years. Quite fascinating, since this disease made its debut in 1999 in New York City, the statistics were quite jumpy. In 2003, there were 9,862 cases of the disease reported and 264 were confirmed dead, compared to 2,500 cases in 2004, 3,000 in 2005, and 4,261 in 2006. So there is a slight rise going on now, but is it anything to worry about. Specialists predicted that 43,000 people suffered from West Nile last year compared to the only 4,261 cases reported. So why are so little reported? Few people even know they get the disease. With such simple symptoms are a headache or body aches in some cases, people think nothing of having it checked out.

So is there any epidemic to worry about? There is a little fear but I would think "epidemic" is pushing it. Though it is still early to tell, I would not panic about it. Just try to avoid the mosquitoes. This can simply be an increase in the number of reported cases compared to previous years.

Sources:

The Health Care Compliance Company. "West Nile epidemic could be on the horizon"
http://www.hcpro.com/content/74612.cfm