Woman dies of H1N1 virus

A 26-year-old Qatari woman has died from H1N1 flu virus, the Supreme Council of Health announced yesterday.

Her death brings the total number of H1N1 victims in Qatar to 11 since the first case in August last year.
The last death from the virus was on January 10.

The latest victim, who was 29 months pregnant, was admitted to Hamad Hospital on October 10, suffering from acute pneumonia and high fever. She was treated as a suspected H1N1 case.

Public Health director Dr Mohamed al-Thani said the twins she was bearing had been rescued and were under close observation now.

Dr Mohamed al-Thani called on residents to comply with the preventive measures against H1N1 as declared by the Supreme Council of Health.

He stressed that anyone having flu symptoms should immediately visit the nearest Primary Health Centre.
H1N1 symptoms include fever, cough and runny nose .

He also stressed the importance of seasonal flu shots, especially by the most vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, pilgrims, children, people suffering from chronic diseases and the aged.

The flu shots are available at the Vaccination Section at Abu Hamour Centre.

Via : biomedme

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