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Unattended
standing waters can serve as breeding grounds
for mosquitos. • Jon Cook/Online Forty-Niner
West
Nile claims third victim in CA
By
Kara Ogushi
Staff Writer
Claiming
its third victim in California and its first
in the Los Angeles County; an 88-year-old
Long Beach woman died after contracting
the West Nile Virus.
The
West Nile Virus or WNV is a mosquito-born
disease that can be transferred by a bite
of a mosquito, a blood transfusion or an
organ transplant from an infected person.
"There
are several forms of the West Nile Virus,
20 percent of those infected will have the
mild form. This consists of nausea, vomiting,
headache, eye pain and swelling of lymph
nodes," said Dr. Michael Carbuto Chief
physician of the Student Health Center.
"One in 150 will be infected with the
severe form that leads to neurological problems,
such as meningitis and encephalitis, however
these are generally older people."
It
begins with a mosquito bite that can slowly
progress into mild or moderate flu-like
symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches
and for some people even death. It is estimated
however, that less than one percent of the
people who are infected with West Nile Virus
will become severely ill and require medical
care.
The
elderly and those with weak immune systems
are most likely to be affected by the virus.
It is highly unlikely that if you are bitten
mosquito you will display any symptoms.
"If
you have symptoms such as fever or other
symptoms associated with the bite come to
the Student Health Center or go to a local
medical facility," Carbuto said.
According
to the California Department of Health Services
as of August 5, a total of 103 West Nile
Virus infections had been reported from
San Bernardino (51), Los Angeles (26), Riverside
(18), Orange County (2), Imperial (1), Kern
(2), Fresno (2), and Tulare (1) counties.
Dr.
Carbuto suggests that in order to be entirely
safe you should avoid going outdoors in
the early morning and evening times, since
this is when they are most active. Be sure
to avoid any dead birds, do not touch them,
but be sure to report them as soon as possible.
With
the threat of West Nile Virus now in Long
Beach, some CSULB students such as senior
Anthony Liaw are not taking any chances.
"I
keep the screen doors closed at home and
use a little DEET when near bodies of water"
said Anthony Liaw, Marine Biology major,
23. "Not much you can do, it's a virus
that uses a winged organism as its carrier.
It's awful hard to control that."
The
National Pesticide Telecommunications Network
encourages the usage of DEET as an insect
repellent. It is non-toxic to humans and
is recommended by the CDC as the most effective
repellent.
"A
shipment of DEET has just arrived at the
Student Health Center and will be available
for students to purchase it soon,"
Carbuto said.
If
you display allergic reactions to DEET such
as seizures, which has happened in a few
cases, you can try some of these alternatives.
Biteblocker which has two percent soybean
oil, provides about one and a half hours
of complete protection, Citronella products
such as Herbal Armour provide 20 minutes
of protection.
If
you still feel uneasy or have more questions
about West Nile Virus you can attend an
upcoming workshop being held by the Neighborhood
Resource Center.
"Anyone
who is concerned about the West Nile Virus
should attend the workshop, after all we
all have elderly relatives and children
in our families that might be at risk,"
said JoAnn Rojas Neighborhood Training Coordinator.
The
workshop will be held August 12, Thursday
from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood
Resource Center. Moniek Pointer from the
Preventive Health Bureau will be speaking
about the West Nile Virus as well as Bioterrorism.
If you are interested in attending or want
more information, contact JoAnn at (562)
570-1010.
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