west nile epidemic?

[jjwhite]

The west nile virus has killed 5 people in the U.S. and the media is frantic. We see the state outlines with scarey red overlays and we hear breathless newsreaders discuss the epidemic. The reality of it is that you have more of a chance of dying of a snake bite than dying of west nile. I recently heard a very brief note on the radio that the federal police agencies had lost over 700 handguns in the last few years. It is probably more likely that the average healthy person will be a victim of those handguns than west nile but yet the media has been relitively silent about the scandal.

[RobRoy]

This is the first I've heard of it. I thought you were talking about an epidemic of something by the Nile River.

'Course, we dumped tv over five years ago. This is just an unanticipated benefit.

Oh, and based on what you posted, I don't want to hear about it. 8^>

[templar]

You're right. I've been wondering why the big scare hype in the media. Like the anthrax scare. Neither of these events seem to justify any fear on the average persons part, and I doubt that hardly anyone would be worried about it if the media wasn't constantly telling them to be worried. Wonder why?

[The Duke]

Hey, my middle kid and I just figure it'll keep the city slickers scared away from our top secret fishin' holes!

Pass the West Nile please, and I'll take a side helping of Ebola to go with that!

[laconic]

I agree; certainly not to minimize the impact on the victims, but it appears that all those who have died so far had severely compromised immune systems. People in this weak state can die of a common cold.

[lelio]

The local FOX affliate around here lead with a story last night of WEST NILE IN EASTERN WASHINGTON!!! Turns out that some just stepped of a plane from Louisiana and had a mild case of it. But if you didn't listen for that part you'll think that people were keeling over.
If it bleeds (from a mosquito bite) it leads I suppose.

[contessa machiaveli]

it's august so west nile is the shark of 2002.next year it will be the summer of the toe fungus. we can't have the media reporting on substantive issues.

[Dog Gone]

The press is dumb, and they run in packs. St. Louis encephalitis is almost identical, is spread by mosquitoes, and kills people in this country, too.

However, it's been around forever, so it doesn't sell newspapers or titillate reporters.

[Eala]

it appears that all those who have died so far had severely compromised immune systems

How compromised? (I just read this on a mailing list, btw.) To what degree are those with AIDS at risk -- understanding that the more advanced it is the more at risk they are...

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

Yep, Never hear much about lyme disease either.


Let's blame it all on Iraq and get it over with.

[eastforker]

Well,I'm just getting over what the doc said was probably WNV,cost me a week of work,and it wasn't comfortable either.Say what you will,it will cost some their lives,other discomfort,for me it was no fun,except I got to stay home and play on FR for a week.

[Redcloak]

Repeat after me: "Slow news day."

[laconic]

From what I've heard, Eala, the victims are elderly people who have been quite ill. The odds I read tonite were something like you have a one in one thousand chance of getting bit by a mosquito with West Nile and a one in one thousand chance if you are bit of getting the slightest bit sick from it.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

http://www.n-jcenter.com/2002/Aug/8/area99.htm

[Maelstrom]

No...this has been a manipulated 'epidemic' that has actually failed because in the US we have good food, good sanitary conditions, and good water.

I tried to tell you guys about the expected manipulation on this particular disease about 2 1/2 - 3 years ago.

[willieroe]

Well,I'm just getting over what the doc said was probably WNV...

The more I read, the more I think that I also had West Nile virus (I'm in Memphis.) Swelling around a mosquito bite on my collarbone on the 16th of last month, then fever and swollen glands, skin all over my torso feeling HOT, HOT to the touch for a day or two, then started to break out in a rash all over (chest, stomach, sides, arms, upper thighs.) Could not see my overbooked doctor, but was called in antibiotics. As soon as the rash started to disappear, the skin on my fingers and hands began to peel off, as small pin blisters had formed under the first layer of skin.

[medved]

Sounds serious enough to me. There is, of course, a simple solution to the problem. Call your congress people and demand that DDT be brought back and fully legalized for purposes of destroying mosquitos, anywhere in America, anywhere in the world.

[backhoe]

West Nile Virus- Bring Back DDT?

[fivecatsandadog]

West Nile Virus is the current mega-reality show of the season... just like the interview they did of the 2 girls that were raped in California - Reality TV - people want to see "in-your-face" reporting. This keeps up and we won't know if what they're reporting is real or simulated, and all for the sake of ratings.

[Eala]

a one in one thousand chance if you are bit of getting the slightest bit sick from it.

Thanks very much for the figures, laconic. That helps a lot in assessing the situation.