03 August 2023 , 18:56
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Experts have warned there are "pretty big" warning signs this year could see a rise in a fatal seizure-inducing virus across the US.
A historically wet winter followed by a particularly hot summer makes perfect conditions for the mosquitos that carry the West Nile virus.
Daniel Markowski, technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, said: “The number of mosquitoes that have hatched off after the spring snowmelt is pretty tremendous in many of the states, whether it be Colorado or Utah or California."
He added there's "the right temperature, the right mosquito population and the right time of year for localised outbreaks to occur.”
West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common form of mosquito-borne disease in the US. It is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.
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Mosquitoes spread the West Nile Virus (Getty Images)According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms.
"About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. You can reduce your risk of WNV by using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites."
According to Dr. Vicki Kramer, chief of the California Department of Public Health’s Vector-Borne Disease Section, around one per cent of patients can develop an infection involving the central nervous system. This can lead to paralysis or death, CNN reports.
She said: “Some individuals that recover have ongoing neurologic symptoms for years, so it can be very serious." Particularly at risk are older people and those with medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a weakened immune system.
A park worker spraying to ward off mosquitoes in a children's play area (Town Hall of Palomares del Rio HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)While there have only been 90 cases across the US so far this year, August is typically the month that sees the most cases. Mr Markowski said that surveillance systems are starting to show these warning signs about a dangerous year.
In California, 147 dead birds have been found (as of July 28) suspected to be linked to the virus. This is double what is usually seen by this time of the year. And the amount of virus found in mosquito samples is also up compared with the five-year average.
Dr. Erin Staples, the medical epidemiologist in charge of the CDC's arboviral diseases branch, said: “Once you start seeing increases of West Nile virus in those mosquitoes, that does raise the alarm that people need to be taking measures to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes."
Mosquito control agencies target mosquitoes to try to limit the population in areas where West Nile is a concern. Dr Kramer also encouraged residents of California who see dead birds to report them to WestNile.ca.gov. She said: “The public can really help us in detecting and monitoring West Nile virus activity."