August 4, 2000: New York City
Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D., announced today that
a 78 year-old Staten Island man has tested laboratory-positive
for West Nile virus. Serum and spinal fluid samples from the
patient were received by the New York City Department of Health
(NYCDOH) on 27 Jul 2000, tested for West Nile virus, and reported
as positive on 28 Jul 2000. Testing at the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) was initially equivocal on 30 Jul
2000, but repeat testing this past week was reported positive
on 3 Aug 2000. Additional confirmatory test results will be available
in another week. [Both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera samples
were positive for IgM antibody by ELISA testing. Further confirmatory
testing by plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) for
IgG antibody in a convalescent serum sample is pending. - Mod.JW]
The individual became ill with
symptoms of meningo-encephalitis (fever, dizziness, light-headedness)
on 20 Jul 2000, and was admitted to a local hospital on 22 July
2000. After one week in the hospital, the patient was released
and is now at home recovering.
Dr. Cohen said, "Symptoms
of West Nile virus begin between 5 to 15 days after being bitten
by an infected mosquito, indicating that this individual was
infected before the City implemented its recent control efforts
on Staten Island. Our intensive, ongoing bird and mosquito surveillance
program documented significant West Nile viral activity on Staten
Island in mid-July, especially in the southern half of Staten
Island where this patient lives. Spraying was conducted on 19
Jul 2000 in response to those early warnings, as well as follow-up
spraying throughout Staten Island on 2 Aug 2000 as a precaution.
In addition, more than 40 lakes, ponds, and marshes on Staten
Island received aerial applications of larvicide on 27 &
28 July 2000, and larviciding of catch basins is ongoing. The
City will continue to take action where necessary to reduce the
mosquito population and minimize the potential for additional
human illnesses based on positive surveillance findings in birds,
mosquitoes, and humans.
"With this news of the
City's first human case of West Nile virus this year, and with
the information we have received over the past few weeks on the
increasing numbers of dead birds confirmed to be infected with
West Nile virus in New York City, all New Yorkers, particularly
those on Staten Island and those more at risk for severe illness,
especially the elderly, should continue to take precautions against
mosquitoes. In addition, I urge all New Yorkers to help the City
and each other to mosquito-proof New York City by eliminating
the areas of standing water where mosquitoes may breed,"
Dr. Cohen said.
Staten Island Borough President
Molinari said, "Our Helpline unit has fielded nearly 1,500
calls, including reports of more than 500 dead birds and over
200 standing water conditions."
For information on West Nile
virus, spraying activities, or to report dead birds and areas
of standing water where mosquitoes may breed, New Yorkers may
call the NYCDOH's West Nile virus information line, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, at 1-877-WNV-4NYC (1-877-968-4692).(New
Yorkers who use TTY/TDD can call 212-788-4947 weekdays from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
Extensive information is also
included on the City's Web site at www.nyc.gov/health
West Nile virus update:
2 new States, multiple new counties, found positive
July 30, 2000: Two counties
in Massachusetts (Middlesex, Suffolk) have each had a crow confirmed
as positive for West Nile virus (WNV). These are the first ever
findings of WNV in that State. Both birds were initially found
alive, but soon died. Three additional counties in New York (Nassau,
Onondaga, Ulster) had dead wild birds confirmed as positive for
WNV for the first time this year.
This brings to 13 the total
number of counties in the United States with wild birds confirmed
as positive for WNV since 1 May 2000. A total of 77 wild birds
have been found positive.
A mosquito pool in Connecticut has
also been found positive for WNV. This is the first finding of
WNV in Connecticut in 2000. The pool of Culex restuans was collected
on 11 July in Stamford, Fairfield County. No positive wild birds
have yet been found in the State this year.
Three new counties in New York
have reported positive pools of mosquitoes. New York County (Manhattan)
had its first confirmed WNV finding of 2000 when Culex species
collected the week of 17 July in Central Park were found positive.
Pools of Culex species in Richmond (Staten Island) and Rockland
counties were also reported positive this week. Suffolk County
reported 17 new positive mosquito pools in the last week, 15
of which were collected on 11 July in the Lindenhurst/Babylon
area.
A total of 16 counties in Connecticut
(1), Massachusetts (2), New Jersey (3), and New York (10) have
now had confirmed findings of WNV since 1 May 2000. Seven counties
in New Jersey (1) and New York (6) have now had two or more confirmed
findings of WNV-positive wild birds. Three counties in Connecticut
(1) and New York (2) have detected a single WNV-positive mosquito
pool. Another six counties in Massachusetts (2), New Jersey (2)
and New York (2) have detected a single WNV-positive wild bird.
Only four counties, all in New York (Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk,
Westchester), have had both wild birds and mosquito pools found
positive.
There have been no findings of WNV-positive sentinel chickens,
humans, or horses in the United States since 1 May 2000.
Confirmed WNV-Positive Wild Birds, 1 May to 28 July, 2000:
Massachusetts (2 birds)
Middlesex County (1 crow)
Suffolk County (1 crow)
New Jersey (9 birds)
Bergen County (7 crows)
Hudson County (1 crow)
Middlesex County (1 crow)
New York (66 birds)
Nassau County (2 crows, 1 song sparrow)
Onondaga County (1 crow)
Queens County * (1 blue jay, 1 crow, 1 merlin)
Richmond County * (10 crows, 1 fish crow, 1 house sparrow, 1
other)
Rockland County (5 blue jays, 1 Canada goose, 27 crows)
Suffolk County (3 crows)
Ulster County (1 crow)
Westchester County (4 blue jays, 3 crows, 2 red-tailed hawks)
Part of New York City
Confirmed WNV-Positive Mosquito Pools, 1 May to 28 July, 2000:
Connecticut (1 pool)
Fairfield County (1 Culex restuans)
New York (25 pools)
New York County * (1 Culex pipiens/restuans)
Orange County (1 Aedes japonicus)
Richmond County * (2 Culex pipiens/restuans)
Rockland County (2 Culex pipiens/restuans)
Suffolk County (18 Culex pipiens/restuans)
Westchester County (1 Aedes japonicus)
· Part of New York City
(Source: Randall L Crom (Randall.L.Crom@usda.gov)
On Jun 8, 2000, the New York State and New Jersey
public health laboratories
reported provisional findings of West Nile virus-positive dead
crows to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). In New York State,
the positive tests are in two dead crows that were found in Rockland
County along the Hudson River on May 22, 2000. Testing by the
New York State laboratory in Albany showed evidence of West Nile
virus in two different tests, and virus culture results, were
also positive.
The New Jersey report involves a dead crow found
in Bergen County on May 30, 2000. New Jersey does more limited
testing than New York State, but the bird was positive in the
New Jersey laboratory in the single test that was performed.
These results were confirmed by CDC on June 8, 2000.
All recent mosquito testing for West Nile virus
(including New York) has been negative, and there is no known
or suspected human disease. Extensive mosquito control measures
continue in the region and should reduce the potential for human
disease. The bird findings are likely to reflect enhanced CDC-funded
surveillance in the New York area, indicating the monitoring
system is working and envisioned. The system is designed to detect
evidence of virus in birds or mosquitoes before there is any
human disease. Continued circulation of West Nile virus is not
unexpected based on the positive data from overwintering mosquitoes
in the year. New York State has issued a press release announcing
the findings, and is intensifying surveillance activities in
Rockland and surrounding counties in order to guide any additional
control measures. This press release may be accessed at http://www.health.state.nysdoh/commish/2000/crows.htm.
