Nicole K. McClure
As stated above, the United States had not seen a WNV case prior to 1999. During that year, sixty-one people in the New York City area developed WNV infection.3 The virus also affected birds and horses, and some animal cases were reported in New Jersey and Connecticut as well.4 In this first year, sixty-two people became infected with WNV; seven of them died.5
The West Nile Virus is spread when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, and then feeds on another animal or person, subsequently passing it on.6 All people living in an active virus area are at risk of getting West Nile Virus.7 Those that are fifty years old and older are at highest risk of severe disease.8 If there is concern over about one’s health, a doctor should always be contacted.
WNV INFECTION INFORMATION
Humans
Symptoms. West Nile Virus incubates in humans for three to fifteen days before showing symptoms.9 Symptoms can last a few days to several weeks, depending on the severity of infection, but neurological affects may be permanent.10 Symptoms of most WNV cases (which are mild) include: fever, headache, body aches, occasional skin rashes on trunk of body, swollen lymph glands.11 More sever cases could be marked by: headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and in rare cases death can occur.12
Doctor. Upon going to the doctor with concerns over WNV, he/she will first take a medical history to assess the risk for having the virus.13 People who live in or have traveled to active West Nile Virus areas are most at risk.14 Upon determining a persons risk level, a blood sample may or may not be drawn, then sent to a commercial or public health laboratory for confirmation of having WNV.15
Treatment. “There is no specific therapy. In more sever cases, intensive supportive therapy is indicated, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, airway management, respiratory support (ventilator), prevention of secondary infections (pneumonia, urinary tract, etc.), and good nursing care.”16
Horses
Symptoms. WNV infection may include both central nervous system and peripheral nervous system signs.17 The most common signs of infection are stumbling or lack of coordination, weakness of limbs, partial paralysis, muscle twitching, and death.18 As Figure 1 shows , roughly one-third of horses that contract West Nile Virus die or must be euthanized.19 In 2000, sixty horses were reported to have the West Nile Virus.20 Of those sixty, twenty-three died or were euthanized, resulting in 38% of cases ending in death.21
Figure 1. West Nile Virus Deaths in Horses
Source: Created from data, collected from PR Newswire’s August 2, 2001 Issue.22
Treatment. As of mid-2001, the USDA has approved Fort Dodge Animal Health for a West Nile Virus Vaccine.23 This vaccine requires two initial doses to be given three to six weeks apart, and is recommended as an aid in the prevention of the disease that is caused by WNV.24 “The rapid availability of the product was made possible thanks to important basic work by [Center for Disease Control] scientists and the very efficient review of the Fort Dodge Animal Health vaccine by USDA scientists and license reviewers.”25
FORT DODGE ANIMAL HEALTH
History
Fort Dodge Animal Health was founded in 1912 and has been a division of Wyeth since 1945.26 They are a leading manufacturer and distributor of prescription and over-the-counter animal health care products.27 They serve not only the U.S., but also the international markets, distributing products to more than 100 countries.28 “It is ranked number one in veterinary biological (vaccine) manufacturer in the world and ranks second in veterinary vaccine sales in North America.”29
Today
Fort Dodge has nearly 3,500 employees worldwide: about 2,000 in North America and 1,500 internationally.30 Worldwide headquarters are located in Overland Park, Kansas.31 They have been there since 1995.32
EQUINE WEST NILE VIRUS
Numbers
When WNV was first detected in 1999, twenty-five horses were found to have the virus.33 The following year, the number of horses increased to sixty.34 In 2001, the number rose to 738, and in 2002 the number sky-rocketed to 15, 257!35 Yet as of October 9th of this year, only 2,600 cases have been reported.36 Figure 2 shows the trend in numbers of cases.
Figure 2. Number of Horse West Nile Virus Cases
Years 1999-2003
Source: Created from data collected from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.37
The sudden downtrend of reported cases this year seems to be of the rapid availability of vaccine made by Fort Dodge Animal Health. With the peak mosquito season over for the year, it seems highly doubtful the number will rise much more. Table 1 shows a state-by-state breakdown of the 2,600 West Nile Virus cases in horses for this year.
Table 1. Equine West Nile Virus Cases in the United States and Territories in 2003
As of October 9th, 2003
Source: Created from data collected from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.38
As this table shows, areas of the far western United States have not yet had West Nile Virus detected. This is true for all other years WNV has been detected in the United States.39 Areas in and very close to the Great Plains have the most number of cases, with Colorado leading with 426 cases reported.40 In 2002, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas all lead the country in number of cases; each had 800 or more.41
Kentucky
With Kentucky being the horse racing capital of the world, these West Nile Virus outbreaks have many people in the area extremely concerned. Figure 3 breaks down the number of WNV cases in Kentucky and all states immediately surrounding.
Figure 3. Equine West Nile Virus Cases in Kentucky and Surrounding States.
In 2003, as of October 9th
Source: Created from data collected from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.42
Kentucky itself has sixty-nine reported cases.43 Indiana and West Virginia do not have any reports, but Missouri has 136 cases on hand.44 These numbers may cause concern for some, but the bulk of cases are farther out west.
1 Feedstuffs, August 25, 2003, v75 i34 p23(1)
2 Ibid.
3 JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, Feb 23, 2000, v283 i8 p997
4 Ibid.
5 AORN Journal, July 2001 Issue
6 PR Newswire, August 2, 2001 Issue
7 Hospital Home Health, Oct 2002 Issue
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid.
17 Feedstuffs, August 25, 2003, v75 i34 p23(1)
18 Ibid.
19 Ibid.
20 Ibid.
21 Ibid.
22 PR Newswire, August 2, 2001 Issue
23 Ibid.
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
26 http://www.wyeth.com/divisions/fort_dodge.asp, 6 Oct 2003
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Ibid.
31 Ibid.
32 Ibid.
33 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/equine/wnv/maps.html, 12 Oct 2003
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
36 Ibid.
37 Ibid.
38 Ibid.
39 Ibid.
40 Ibid.
41 Ibid.
42 Ibid.
43 Ibid.
44 Ibid.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services. Equine Program Information. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/equine/wnv/maps.html. 12 Oct 2003.
AORN Journal. West Nile Virus Expected to Spread Down Eastern Seaboard. July 2001.
Feedstuffs. USDA issues conditional license for WNV treatment in horses. August 25, 2003, v75 i34 p23(1).
Hospital Home Health. West Nile Virus Q&A. Oct 2002.
JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association. Guidelines for Surveillance, Prevention, and Control of West Nile Virus Infection--United States. 23 Feb 2000. V283 i8 p997
PR Newswire. Fort Dodge Animal Health Has Received USDA Approval For West Nile Virus Vaccine for Horses. 2 Aug 2001.
Wyeth. Fort Dodge Animal Health. http://www.wyeth.com/divisions/fort_dodge.asp, 6 Oct 2003.
