© REUTERS/Edgar Su
At least three cases of the West Nile virus (WNV) have been officially confirmed in Massachusetts, with the state Department of Public Health (DPH) having raised the WNV risk level from 'low' to 'moderate' in dozens of areas, including the Greater Boston area.
"We are seeing significant expansion of virus activity in mosquitoes," health officials warned on Thursday, adding that the risk won't lessen until the weather changes. "Risk from West Nile virus will continue until the first hard frost," the DPH statement said, urging people "to remember to continue to take steps to avoid mosquito bites."
Massachusetts health officials said that the two new infections recorded were both in male patients over 50 years of age.
Insects carrying the virus have also been found in Steuben County in New York State. While there have been no reports of human cases in the area so far, residents have been asked to protect themselves from mosquitos, with officials warning of possible serious health conditions from their bites.
"Some individuals will develop a more severe form of the disease with encephalitis or meningitis and other severe syndromes, including flaccid muscle paralysis," the county health department said on Thursday.
In Arizona, a man was recently paralyzed after contracting the virus. "He's such a big strong guy and he just can't move...he can't talk, he can't swallow on his own, so he's got a feeding tube," the patient's wife told local news ABC15, pleading for help.
At least one WNV-related death and over 30 human cases have been recently registered in Maricopa County in the southwestern state, its DPH officials announced this week. Environmental services currently conducting testing on mosquitos said they've detected 377 positive cases in the insects and it is "a lot" compared to the ten found last year. They warned more people are likely to contract the infection.
If bitten by an infected mosquito, a person of any age can get the virus, with older people of 50+ being at higher risk for severe illness. While some may have no symptoms, others may suffer flu-like conditions, including fever and head and body aches.
Reader Comments
Sounds like the side effects from the clot shot. I wonder if the 'jabbed' will be more susceptible to this health threat?
Honestly, I would be more afraid of having the mNRA protein transferred to me. Since that is man-made to break through blood cells, I imagine it would survive a mosquito ride.
Then there's the supposed time traveler John Titor's material about life in USA after the next civil war. Devastating effects of prion disease are mentioned, and how careful he is of foods in our timeline, etc so as to avoid. [Link]
Of course, all this can simply be implanted, fear inducing prophecy. Still, shots are going to be the fastest way to spread stuff in a controlled manner. Bonus points for inducing fear, dividing society and getting rich?
I have read literature on the use of 'sound' (wave energy) in everything from healing to anti-gravity. Since my own bias is towards an electrical universe, the thought that other forms of energy being useful is not far fetched at all.