NurseWeek

California joins states in West Nile virus surveillance

By Valerie Harris, MS, OTR
August 26, 2000


	You've read the article. Now tell us what you think. Related Sites Epidemiology and Disease Program West Nile virus glossary

Sacramento. The California Department of Health Services will expand its mosquitoborne surveillance to include the West Nile virus with a $90,000 grant from the CDC.

The virus, which first appeared in North America in 1999, killed seven people and sickened 55 last summer. Mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds spread the virus.

Last year’s outbreak was confined to the New York City area, but this year the virus also has been detected in birds in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut. California joins 17 states along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the District of Columbia in monitoring the virus.

About 200 flocks of sentinel chickens throughout the state, which have been used to check for the mosquitoborne St. Louis encephalitis and Western equine encephalomyelitis, now will have their blood tested for the West Nile virus. No human cases of encephalitis or encephalomyelitis have been reported in California since 1997.

Along with sentinel chickens, the West Nile virus also is monitored in wild birds, mosquitoes, horses with encephalitis and humans with encephalitis and meningitis.

The elderly and immuno-compromised persons are most at risk for serious illness or death from West Nile virus. Serious symptoms include severe headache, neck stiffness, high fever and central nervous system abnormalities. Most people suffer only mild symptoms such as headache, fever, fatigue or muscle aches.