Tag Archives: mosquito

Influenza

Now deadlier than Zika, CHIKV kills 15 people in 5 days!

17 September 2016 (17:56 UTC-07 Tango 01) 27 Shahrivar 1395/14 Dhu I-Hijja 1437/17 Ding-You 4714

“Even many cases of viral fever are showing similar symptoms like joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue etc that are normally associated with Chikungunya. Those patients who are positive for Chikungunya tests are showing more severe symptoms compared to the past few years.”-Rajeev Saxena, consultant physician

In the Indian territory of Delhi 15 people have died since 12 September after being bitten by mosquitoes, the same type of mosquitoes that can pass the Zika virus.  But it’s not Zika, it’s Chikungunya.

More than 1-thousand people in the territory are known to be infected with Chikungunya.  Interestingly government health administrators in Delhi did not consider Chikungunya (aka CHIKV, the V is for virus) to be so dangerous that it had to be reported to state health officials, which means that the actual number of Chikungunya cases could be much higher.  Local news reports say health officials are now requiring hospitals to notify them of anymore cases, however, they’ve also ordered hospitals not to talk to the news media!

So far everybody who has died had other medical problems, and died after they were admitted to hospitals.  There are reports that health administrators failed to spray for mosquitoes this year, due to lack of funding.   Delhi administrators say they are now gearing up to begin spraying using a specialized train called The Terminator, supposedly because most of the new mosquitoes are hatching around railroad tracks.  However, it’ll take at least one week to equip the train and train the personnel how to use the equipment!

CHIKV infections were first noticed in 1955.  It was not considered dangerous as it was rare if an infected person died.  In 2005 CHIKV had mutated and began rapidly spreading around the world, and it became stronger.

By 2015 the virus was found in most of the Americas, Africa and eastern Asia.  This year it looks like the virus mutated again, becoming deadly.  Not only that, one Indian doctor, Rajeev Saxena, says many people are showing CHIKV symptoms but are testing negative for the virus.  This suggests that the current test doesn’t work.  Also, there is no vaccine or cure for CHIKV.

The symptoms are typical of virus infections; fever, rash, joint pain, fatigue, upset stomach, etc.  They show up about a week to two weeks after you’re bit, and can last for ten days.   Survivors in India report that the joint pain isn’t going away, even after they’ve been declared free of the infection.   In previous CHIKV outbreaks about 20% of the victims have recuring symptoms a year later.

A major problem has been noticed with diagnosing CHIKV, the same mosquito (which can pass Zika) also passes on Dengue and Malaria resulting in a sick person actually having multiple viral infections.

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“I looked and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.”-Revelation 6:8

Idaho, U.S.

West Nile Virus: Larvae swarm after Idaho rain storm! Standing water claim a myth?

16 July 2013 (13:47 UTC-07 Tango)/08 Ramadan 1434/25 Tir 1391/09 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

On 15 July parts of eastern Idaho got hit with summer rain storms.   Not unusual, but what was unusual for me is that the next day I found one of my rain barrels swarming with Mosquito larvae.   This was the first time.   My research revealed that the publicly accepted idea that mosquitoes ‘breed’ in standing water is not necessarily true, especially for the West Nile Virus carrying Aedes genus.

Thousands of Aedes larvae in a 30+ gallon rain barrel, less than one day after an Idaho rain storm.

Thousands of mosquito larvae (pupa?) in a 30+ gallon rain barrel, less than one day after an Idaho rain storm.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare states “Remove standing water around your home – this is where mosquitoes like to breed”.  It turns out that it depends on the genus of the bloodsucker.  Most will lay eggs on the surface of water, like the Culex mosquito, which is present in Idaho and carries West Nile and encephalitis.

Some mosquitoes lay their eggs on the underside of leaves.

Most species of Aedes mosquitoes lay their eggs in damp dirt, or near a pond’s edge, not directly in the water.  Aedes also carry West Nile and versions of encephalitis.

I was interested to know why one of my rain barrels were swarming with larvae (possibly pupa?), less than one day after a rain storm, yet none of the drinking water buckets and pans for the dogs and cats were infected, even though they’ve been sitting for a few days.  The animal’s water buckets were filled with city water, which is treated with chlorine and contains fluoride.  That could be one reason, but I was concerned because this was the first time I’ve found any of my rain barrels swarming with mosquitoes.

It was also concerning to find the larvae swarm as I’ve seen only one adult mosquito (and been bitten twice) so far this year.

That particular rain barrel had a layer of damp dirt in the bottom, after a previous rain storm washed collected dust and dirt from the roof and rain gutter.  Where I live people will tell you that it rains dirt here (it’s one reason why the car wash business does well here, and the car dealers really hate it when it rains).  So, I suspect an Aedes mosquito laid eggs in the damp dirt at the bottom of the barrel, then the 15 July rainstorms flooded the barrel, hatching the eggs.

Not to worry, the water in my rain barrels are used ASAP after rain storms to water my pathetic vegetable garden, and my fruit trees (and now I rinse out the dirt).  I also learned that Aedes eggs can hatch independently; if there is not enough water to hatch all of them some will enter a state of suspended animation until more water comes along.

What this means is that the claim that removing standing water to fight West Nile Virus depends on which vampire mosquito your fighting.  The Aedes will lay eggs even if there is no standing water, they just need damp dirt.   The eggs will lay in wait until a sudden large amount of water, like from a rain storm or a pond/lake/river overflowing its banks, will hatch the eggs.  So, it would help to keep the area around your home clean and dry.

In western Idaho, West Nile Virus has been detected in Ada, Canyon and Payette  counties.  State health officials on that side of the Gem State report that they trapped Culex mosquitoes, and they tested positive for the virus.  Officials are blaming the hot summer temps.

U.S.

West Nile update, 17 August 2012: 80% of those infected don’t know they have it! Bees dying by the thousands! Union Pacific worker gets nearly $1 million! Drought to blame

“The higher the heat and the higher the humidity then the longer this will go.”-Phil Smith, Bucks County

More cases of West Nile virus being reported in the United States.

17 August, Bucks County, Pennsylvania reports first case for 2012.

17 August, New Haven, Connecticut reports first case for 2012.

17 August, Alabama officials reveal that at least six people have West Nile.

More mosquitoes were found infected with West Nile in Massachusetts.  Spraying to kill the blood suckers will begin in North Leominster on 20 August.

Health officials in Virginia are warning that as many as 80% of those infected don’t know it, and that: “20% have West Nile fever. About 10% of that 20% will have West Nile virus encephalitis and this can be very very life threatening.”-Jorge Arias, Fairfax County Health Department

In Texas, a Union Pacific (UP) railway employee was awarded $980,000 USD, for getting infected with West Nile virus while on the job.  The jury decided UP was 80% responsible because they made employees work in a swampy area with no insect repellant.

Bee keepers in Texas are reporting that spraying to kill mosquitoes is killing thousands of honey bees: “They will share their food and within 24 or 48 hours, 80% of those bees have shared that and they will be gone like the ones that we have witnessed.”-Susan Pollard, The Texas Honeybee Guild

The Texas cities of Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake all reported human cases of West Nile virus.  The city of Southlake is providing free larvicide on a first come first served basis.

Horses are also becoming infected: “The horse will become unsteady on his feet, maybe stumbling, acting weak on the feet, laying down and not able to get up, sometimes depressed at first, and not interested in their food.”-Will Hadden, Gresham Veterinary Hospital

Dogs can get infected as well, but there is no vaccine for dogs.

In Arkansas, officials expect West Nile cases to grow.  They have a new theory as to why, the country wide drought: “One possible explanation could be with water sources drying up, the sources that are where not only mosquitoes are concentrated but also birds are concentrated. It puts the vectors in closer contact with one another.”-Susan Weinstein, state public health veterinarian

Oregon health officials reporting that mosquitoes in Jackson and Malheur counties tested positive for West Nile.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports 18 human cases so far.

Caddo Parish, in Louisiana, reporting second highest number of West Nile cases in the state. Human infections in Louisiana now at 92.

North Dakota reports 14 human cases, five people hospitalized.  Horses and birds also infected (birds are actually the source for West Nile virus).  Officials are puzzled because the state is in a drought: “Normally, you would think in years when it’s wetter, like last year with all the flooding there would be more West Nile cases, because mosquitoes require water to breed.”-Alicia Lepp, North Dakota Department of Health

Michigan has reported their first death from the virus, they blame the drought: “The unusually hot and dry summer has favored the mosquitoes that transmit WNV. These same conditions have led to a reduction in the number of nuisance mosquitoes which are more abundant during wet summers, giving citizens a false sense of security.”-Corinne Miller, Michigan Department of Community Health

Indiana reported its first death due to the virus. A survivor describes what the symptoms are like: “It feels like somebody has lodged an axe in my brain. Just about the time I think I’m out of the woods, then something else comes along, and we have to fight that, too.”-Katharyn DeVille