CDC: 2012 on pace to be worst year for West Nile virus

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Well health officials say 2012 is on track to be the worst year ever for the deadly West Nile Virus the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the virus has infected some 5200.

People.

Killing 234.

Of them.

And the CDC reports it expects the told the past 2000 two's record of 284.

Deaths.

Doctor Mitchell Brooks joins us now he's the host of the radio show.

Health of the nation doctor Brooks did Cecilia you know -- kind of look back and we just got a great deal of time covering this meningitis outbreak and all the while.

The west Nile epidemic has been awful and not gotten the attention maybe -- -- Yeah that that's true.

The effects of meningitis or -- rather remarkable but.

As you say were on track to have over 300 people die this year from West Nile Virus.

And it's a substantial number and worse there'll be about 3000 people.

-- have paralysis or significant or permanent neurological deficits so it's a real problem.

It's a real problem particularly in Texas.

Yeah we we can't look at these pictures of mosquitoes and of course we all associated West Nile Virus with mosquitoes and we tend to associate.

Mosquitoes with -- or are we off the hook for a couple of months or is this thing year round.

Well it depends on where you are but you know there's a tendency to think you're off the -- because the highest prevalence appears to be in warmer weather.

Which is the cause the high numbers this year have because the warm of the weather.

The more the virus reproduces in the mosquitoes -- reaches critical levels so that when you're bitten by the -- you'll likely get the virus.

But because it's a cyclical disease we're not necessarily off the -- If you talk about a cyclical disease what what do we know doctor Brooks about future epidemics of west Nile.

Well I think they're going to be future epidemics and they may very well be significant for instance I'm in North Dakota.

Which is the state that has the most cases of west -- vial -- Nile virus.

Reported per capita only 15% of the populations become infected.

So there's a long way to go and whilst you can get -- virus and become infected.

And become immune if you've not been.

Subjected to the disease -- you're susceptible to it.

So a lot of people remain susceptible to this this problem particularly -- warm weather.

Yet we keep saying look just avoid mosquito bites but it's not all that easy allegedly the -- -- in -- outside you might get bit.

Yeah exactly.

Very -- the best time to go outside is not at dawn and not at -- you can certainly Wear protective clothing or repellent.

And the topic of spraying his very controversial here in Dallas.

And in the Dallas Metroplex we have very high numbers.

West Nile Virus this year.

And there was a big controversy regarding spring weather to spray the area is -- not.

And the politicians eventually decided to spray.

And in those areas where they sprayed in those -- the amount of mosquitoes were reduced by 90% so.

It looks very encouraging.

It -- doctor Mitchell Brooks thank you sir.

Thank you I'm happy Thanksgiving to Trace it to you to thank you sir.

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CDC: 2012 on pace to be worst year for West Nile virus

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