Human Cases of West Nile Virus and EEE Reported in Massachusetts

A 46-year-old Boston woman has been diagnosed with West Nile virus, the first human case of the mosquito-borne virus in Massachusetts this summer, public health authorities said.

Officials also said a 43-year-old Plymouth County man is hospitalized with eastern equine encephalitis, the second case of the mosquito-borne disease this summer in Massachusetts. 

The man, whose identity was not disclosed because of patient confidentiality rules, is believed to have been exposed to the disease in Southeastern Massachusetts, a long-recognized hotspot of eastern equine activity, disease trackers said. The patient developed symptoms last Saturday and was hospitalized Monday.

The first case of EEE linked to Massachusetts was reported earlier this month when a Rhode Island man fell ill. Authorities believe the man was infected while golfing in Southeastern Massachusetts. He remained in critical condition earlier this week, according to a spokeswoman for Rhode Island's health department.

The woman's case was reported today by the Boston Public Health Commission. The commission was notified Tuesday that the woman was suspected of having meningitis. Laboratory tests returned today confirmed that the woman was infected with West Nile, which can cause meningitis.

The woman, whose name was not released because of patient confidentiality laws, has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, officials said.

Read More @ pctonline.com

High Prevalence of West Nile Virus In Homer City

Just as Homer City’s local West Nile Virus programme managers prepared to fog a section of it with pesticide Monday, another mosquito trapped nearby tested positive for the disease.

A Harrisburg laboratory confirmed Wednesday an adult mosquito trapped on 17th August in Homer City was carrying the virus that causes encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, according to Bob Pollock, Director of Indiana County’s Penn State Extension.

The fogging on Monday was planned after two mosquitoes trapped near Floodway Park on 3rd and 18th August tested positive for West Nile Virus. A pick-up truck and an all-terrain vehicle will spray a pesticide fog containing the active ingredient permethrin around Floodway Park, along Miller Avenue, Church Street, Pine Alley, Station Street, Highland Avenue, Kirk Avenue, Birch Avenue and Locust Street, at dusk on Monday,

The pesticide fog concentration, which will remain suspended in the air for approximately an hour is harmless to humans and animals, including vegetable gardens or plants, according to Tom Norris, programme field technician. However, residents may take extra precautions by covering gardens with plastic and taking pets indoors.

The surveillance traps attract mosquitoes either with a smelly, swamp water-like concoction or dry ice emitting carbon dioxide, as it is exhaled CO2 that draws mosquitoes to humans.

A battery-powered fan inside the trap sucks the mosquitoes into a container, and a single trap can hold as many as a 100 buzzing mosquitoes.

Placing the entrapped adult mosquitoes, mosquito larva, pupa and eggs collected from water samples on dry ice, they are driven to Harrisburg for testing. Testing positive for West Nile Virus results in enhanced surveillance, If, more samples test positive then measures are taken for killing mosquitoes in the area where the infected mosquitoes were trapped, preferably by applying a larvicide to stagnant water for eliminating them before they hatch. 

Sometimes, however, the aerial dispersion of pesticide as a fog is necessary.Scientists from the Centress for Disease Control and Prevention believe West Nile Virus has been in the eastern United States since 1999.

The virus can cause West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can lead to an inflammation of the brain, when transmitted to people in its milder form. West Nile fever brings with it headaches, skin rashes and swollen lymph glands.

Via : visitbulgaria.info

U.S. appeals court rules vaccines not to blame for autism while question about flu shot-narcolepsy link rises

A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a ruling that vaccines are not to blame for autism.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a decision last year by a special vaccine court, which concluded there's little if any evidence to support claims of a vaccine-autism link.

Scientist years ago reached that conclusion, but more than 5,500 families sought compensation through the government's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Friday's ruling came in the case of Michelle Cedillo of Yuma, Ariz., who is disabled with autism, inflammatory bowel disease and other disorders that her parents blame on a measles vaccine given at 15 months.

In the 2009 ruling Special Master Denise Vowell wrote that the evidence "is weak, contradictory and unpersuasive. Sadly, the petitioners in this litigation have been the victims of bad science conducted to support litigation rather than to advance medical and scientific understanding" of autism.

In its ruling Friday the appeals panel said "we have carefully reviewed the decision of the special master and we find that it is rationally supported by the evidence, well-articulated, and reasonable. We, therefore, affirm the denial of the Cedillos' petition for compensation."

Earlier this year the so-called vaccine court also concluded that the additive thimerosal is not to blame for autism, an added setback in a long-running battle by parents convinced there is a connection.

The decisions help to offer reassurance to parents scared about vaccinating their babies because of a small but vocal anti-vaccine movement. Some vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, are on the rise.

Via : cleveland.com

Flu vaccine available now

Immediately after the news that “Swine flu” was no longer a threat, it’s time to be prepared for another shot. Flu vaccination season began this year and it is expected to be bigger than ever.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a bumper crop of 160 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine is being made. This is almost 40 percent more than the previous year.

The CDC is recommending universal influenza vaccination for the first time. Instead of confusing lists based on age and health status, it is much simpler this time: Everyone above 6 months old is advised to get the shot.

CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said, “We in public health think that vaccination can benefit everybody. We’ve been moving in that direction for several years. The bottom line is people can start getting vaccinated now. If it’s available, go get it.”

Pharmacy outlets believe that H1N1 memories will boost the demand for these shots this season. Last year, hand sanitizing gels became common in kitchens, people learned to cover their cough and they kept sick kids from going to school.

Via : topnews.net.nz