California Gov. broadens scope of West Nile Fund

The West Nile virus continued its rampage across states in the U.S., so far claiming 906 confirmed cases nationwide with 280 verified as the neuroinvasive (NIV) form, the most severe strain of the virus. Apparently apprehending the significant ripple effects of the WNV around the country, the California State health officials have pulled up their socks to combat the potentially deadly virus.

Giving a significant boost to their efforts to fight against the deadly West Nile Virus, the California State Governor has decided to broaden the scope of the emergency $10 million relief fund allocated last month to assist in mosquito control efforts and West Nile Virus surveillance throughout the state.

Acting cautiously, the State Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday (Sept. 10) passed an executive order that allows the last month’s allocation to be used in efforts by local government to make the public more aware about the virus and enhance support to the medical community.

In addition, the reserve fund can now be spent on promoting aggressive surveillance by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in areas with an increased risk of West Nile Virus transmission.

Initially assigned for mosquito control, surveillance and vegetation management, the last month’s funding can now be used for tackling the mosquito-borne disease.

“Protecting public safety is government’s top job – that’s why I’m committed to ensuring our local agencies have all the tools they need to fight this deadly mosquito-borne disease. Today’s action also gives priority relief to local areas with the highest risk of West Nile Virus,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger on California State’s Web site.

Gov. Schwarzenegger on Aug. 2 in Bakersfield, declared a State of Emergency in three counties, including Kern, Colusa and San Joaquin. Hit hard by the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, the three counties received $1.35 million funding. The vector control agencies were ordered to identify mosquito habitat, treat areas and conduct surveillance and warning operations, using the allocation. In total, around $4.5 million has been distributed to 35 counties.

According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2006 there were 4,261 diagnosed cases of West Nile virus in the United States; 1,459 were the NIV form, with 174 deaths attributed to the disease. In California there have been 10 deaths and 198 cases.

Discovered in the United States in 1999, West Nile virus has entrapped 30 of California's 58 counties, of which Kern County, located in the southern Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, leads in the number of cases reported of the West Nile virus.

Usually, WNV strikes the old, the really young, and the ones with a weakened immune system. While WNV usually does not exhibit symptoms in a majority of cases, some of the people infected can develop symptoms similar to flu. Symptoms usually appear between five and 15 days after infection. In specific cases, WNV can prove to be fatal.

This mosquito-borne virus which is named after the West Nile district of Uganda where the virus was first detected, usually transmits to humans by Culex mosquitoes, the type that spread the disease. These mosquitoes contract the virus from infected birds. When they feast on blood, they can pump this potentially-fatal virus into a vein and can thus pass it to humans, horses and, in a few cases, dogs.

The best way to ward off the threat of the disease was to ensure there was no heavy presence of mosquito populations in a specific area.