West Nile: Its Not Just a River In Egypt Essay -- West Nile Viruses

western Nile Its Not Just a River In Egypt These Americans leave alone go mad over just about anything. latterly there has been so much news coverage about the West Nile Virus my head is spinning. What I dont understand is why they are last becoming concerned with it now The news reports on the television articulate that it has been present in animals and humans on other continents for years though it was only documented in 1999.1 It has taken what seems like a hanker time to spread across the continent to California. However, being a bookman of history myself I know that usu all toldy epidemics in the past exact taken much, much longer to spread such distances. Seeing as this disease was present on all other continents merely this wholeness for so long it makes it difficult to track its entrance into the U.S., but the American scientists say the strain of West Nile they commence here most well-nigh identifies with strains from the Middle East.1 Every time I turn on the idiot box there is some well groomed reporter standing draw close an area deemed high risk such as ponds in parks. In her clear harsh American tone she warns to stay indoors at dusk, to avoid areas with standing water, and use plenty of insect repellent.2 You see they have found that this virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and those conditions tend to make multitude come in close contact with them. She then lists warning signs for the pyrexia that accompanies contraction of the virus, rattling on about things that could just as soft be something else. Fever, head and body aches, nausea2--all things that could accompany any illness the flu, a cold, food poisoning or even a hard age work. Why must all sicknesses exhibit the same symptoms? They say that the transmitting of the body c... ...ted for this year in California. Being so young Im not as concerned about this as the older population is, but I am just as affected by the sensationalist news reports, WEST NILE W ATCH 2003, that interrupt programs every fifteen minutes. on that point really is a feeling of impending sickness that will sweep over us all, but luckily it doesnt seem to strike. It is definitely something that the public here has been educated about, and warned about, but has yet to affect a general group of people negatively. On the contrary, Im sure bug repellant sales are up, as well as doctor visits for flu-like symptoms. We are all more aware, many are frightened and hopefully few will ever have reason to be. Sources 1. www.bayeradvanced.com/garden/west-nile-virus/ 2. Hitti, Miranda. West Nile Fever worsened Than Expected,3. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/