Yet another of many attempted scares since COVID, gotta keep them scared and subservient at all times... PANIC, freak out, worship your Democrat masters, and most importantly, lock yourself down and stay the fuck home until you go insane... Health Officials Put Americans on Notice Over Disease Now Found Across the US https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/health-officials-put-americans-on-notic... Authorities across the United States have issued notices about West Nile virus, a deadly disease that can be spread via mosquitoes, after more positive cases have been reported. In a recent instance, Iowa’s Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the state’s first case of West Nile virus in an older adult, who was not identified, in Plymouth County. “Warm summer weather means Iowans are spending more time outside, which increases the risk of mosquito bites. Bites from infected mosquitos are the primary method in which humans are infected with the virus,” the department said in a June 16 statement. The statement added, “Anyone infected with [West Nile virus] may not experience any signs or symptoms of the virus, however, some experience mild symptoms that can develop into more serious ones.” People who experience mild signs and symptoms of a West Nile virus infection generally recover on their own, but serious symptoms require immediate medical attention, the department added. Widespread Cases The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced in June that the first human case of the virus was found in the Three Rivers Public Health District, near Lincoln. The person who tested positive was not hospitalized, said the agency, adding that residents of Dodge, Saunders, and Washington counties should limit their time outside at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Epoch Times Photo Lab assistant Amy Sebo drops mosquitoes into test tubes as she prepares them to be tested with the VecTest procedure for West Nile virus at the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District headquarters in Wheeling, Ill., on June 20, 2003. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) Nevada health officials, too, issued a news release confirming West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in the 89074 ZIP code, which includes parts of Henderson, a city within the Las Vegas metropolitan area. “The positive mosquito results illustrate that West Nile Virus is active in Southern Nevada and that residents need to be vigilant about eliminating mosquito breeding sources while also protecting themselves from mosquito bites,” said District Health Officer Dr. Fermin Leguen. In Texas, the Harris County Public Health Mosquito Vector Control Division confirmed a mosquito sample tested positive for West Nile virus in the county, which encompasses Houston. The sample was taken from a trapping site in the 77005 ZIP code, according to officials. “Our comprehensive mosquito surveillance program is key to identifying the presence of the virus in our community and guides our control efforts to help us better protect our residents. West Nile virus has been in our area since 2002,” mosquito control Division Director Dr. Maximea Vigilant said in a news release. “During the summer months, we remind our residents to enjoy the outdoors but remember to protect themselves and their families from diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.” Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows 13 cases so far across the United States as of June 13, reported in Arizona, Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Illinois, South Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Four of the 13 cases were reported in Arizona. There were 1,126 cases of the virus reported in all of 2022, CDC data shows. Epoch Times Photo The total number of West Nile virus human infections (light blue), nonhuman activity (green-blue), and human infections and nonhuman activity (dark blue) are shown as of June 2023. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Some Infections Dangerous There are no vaccines or medicines to deal with the virus, which is a member of the flavivirus genus. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, while about 1 in 150 people develop a serious illness that can be deadly. Other than a fever, some people with mild forms of the disease have a headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, according to the CDC. “Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months,” said the agency. Fewer than 1 percent of those infected with the virus can get a severe neurological condition consistent with meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms include a change of mental status, vomiting, sensitivity to light, seizures, coma, or acute flaccid paralysis. “The death rate among those showing symptoms of severe West Nile infection (encephalitis or meningitis) is around 10%. Most severe cases occur in elderly people,” according to the CDC’s website. West Nile virus is rarely transmitted from one person to another person, as generally mosquitoes are the primary vector. The primary hosts of West Nile virus are birds, officials say. Health officials at the University of California–San Francisco said mosquitoes become infected with the pathogen when they feed on infected birds. Crows, jays, ravens, and magpies are particularly susceptible to the virus. A form of West Nile virus circulating in Tunisia and Israel in 1999 was imported to New York state, “producing a large and dramatic outbreak that spread throughout the continental United States” in the 2000s, according to the World Health Organization. “The largest outbreaks occurred in Greece, Israel, Romania, Russia and USA,” the WHO said. “Outbreak sites are on major birds migratory routes. In its original range, WNV was prevalent throughout Africa, parts of Europe, Middle East, West Asia, and Australia. Since its introduction in 1999 into USA, the virus has spread and is now widely established from Canada to Venezuela.”