Is West Nile Virus Coming to Wayne County?

Reported by Daniel Lai and John Ness.

Health officials say 2012 was the worst year for West Nile Virus infections in Michigan since 2003. Last year, Wayne County had 47 cases of West Nile — more than triple the state average. 

“The increase in the number of West Nile cases was something that was experienced nationwide due to mild, temperate weather patterns throughout the country, enabling mosquito larvae to develop quickly and mature,” said Carol Austerberry, environmental health director for the Wayne County Public Health Department.

To give residents a sense of West Nile’s prevalence in Wyandotte, Patch has pulled together county-level 2012 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The Cases and Incidence Rates

You can see how counties across the state compare by using the interactive map above, which shows the number of West Nile cases in humans and the infection rate. West Nile – named after the district in Uganda where the virus was first discovered – spread to New York City in 1999, and has been migrating across the United States ever since. Last year was the deadliest year so far for West Nile in the United States, with more than 5,600 "confirmed and probable" cases, and at least 286 related deaths. 

Local predictions for 2013 are very difficult to make. But nationally, "the number of humans with West Nile virus disease continues to rise in the United States," said Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. 

No Vaccine, Little Reporting, But a High Cost

While there is a West Nile vaccine for horses, there isn't one for humans, according to Purdue University Professor Richard Kuhn. Furthering the problem is the fact that cases of West Nile often go unreported. 

“It's always underreported because if someone has a mild case they might not report it; they might think it’s a cold,” said Judith M. Lavelle, health communications specialist at the CDC. 

Austerberry said when Wayne County health officials suspect a possible WNV case, the health department follows a strict protocol for reporting the virus to the state.

“Only the Michigan Department of Public Health has the capability of reporting West Nile cases to the CDC,” she said.

That information is sent from county health laboratories, local hospital Infection Control Personnel (ICPs) or physician offices through the Michigan Disease Surveillance System (MDSS), which is the state secure database that logs all of the reportable diseases from local health departments. 

There is currently no comprehensive treatment for someone infected by West Nile, which makes severe diagnoses all the more frightening. Patch spoke to one Texas man who survived a West Nile infection in 2006, and has dedicated himself to educating the public about the potentially debilitating disease.

“I was told point blank that I would never walk again - to forget it,” said Donnie Manry, of the Bryan County Police Department in Texas. “It was devastating.”

Manry, who was 43 at the time, said that within five days of being stung, encephalitis and meningitis left him paralyzed. Through rehabilitation, Manry was able to regain control of his body again, and now uses a cane to walk. 

From Birds to Bugs to Humans

West Nile has also been detected in bird populations, notably in Central Michigan.

“Certain types of birds serve as a reservoir for West Nile Virus,” Kuhn said.

An infected bird can pass the virus along to an uninfected mosquito when bitten. That’s why Wayne County launched a hotline for people to report dead birds in the area.

Many states have begun testing mosquitoes for West Nile, withPennsylvania, Illinois and California all reporting positive detection in certain counties. After the virus was detected in Michigan, communities in Wayne County began spraying insecticide and placing larvicide in storm drains, Mary Mazur, director of communications and community collaboration for Wayne County said.

“Wayne County’s surveillance and reporting practices have remained consistent over the past few years. Each year the county places mosquito collection traps out and weekly collects mosquitoes and sends those to the state laboratory for testing. This program has been going on for more than 10 years,” Austerberry said.

Prevention and Symptoms

The CDC recommends using an EPA-certified mosquito repellant if you’re going to be outdoors, and lists some additional prevention tips on their website.

Austerberry also suggests that residents can take precautions to protect themselves and their families by following the 4Ds of West Nile Virus prevention:

DUSK – Avoid being outside when mosquitoes are most active: dusk and dawn.

DEET – Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

DRESS – Wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants when outdoors from dusk to dawn.

DRAINAGE – Drain all standing water around your home. Empty standing water from containers such as flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires, and birdbaths.

Also make sure that screen doors and windows are in good repair, preventing home and living access to mosquitos.

Horse owners should have their animals vaccinated to prevent infection.

With the 2012 mosquito season the highest on record, health officials are cautioning people to take immediate action if you believe you’ve been infected. The CDC website lists varying degrees of symptoms, including: 

• Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness, including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, and paralysis.

• Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back.

• No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

West Nile Awareness

Since West Nile was first detected in Michigan in 2002, the Wayne County Department of Public Health and its Environmental Health Division has spread preventive messages, provided health alerts and performed community education annually to educate residents on how to decrease their chances of contracting West Nile Virus. It does this through media outlets, the Wayne County website and other sources.

Through its “Fight the Bite, Wayne County”  public education campaign, the health department distributes West Nile literature and educational materials, such as West Nile prevention refrigerator magnets via school presentations, events, health fairs and at county health venues throughout its 42 community service area via Wayne County “Health on Wheels” mobile health units.

For more information, call the Wayne County Public Health Department’s West Nile Hotline at 734-727-7445.

Residents can also call the Wayne County Department of Environmental Health Division at 734-727-7400 or visit www.waynecounty.com or visit www.cdc.gov.