http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR15-027.aspx
You may have heard of a huge drought in California, but maybe not. Either way, the drought is really bad, and it is causing even more problems that may be even worse than the water crisis. One of the many issues created by our lack of water is the West Nile Virus. This potentially neuroinvasive disease had the second highest number of human cases in 2014 with 801 people contracting this virus. 31 people died from this dangerous disease, the highest number of deaths that WNV has ever caused. The proportion of mosquitoes infected with WNV has reached a high with the mosquito infection rate now 6.0, which is shocking considering the infection rate of an epidemic being 5.0. 60% of birds have also been found to be infected. If we do not act now to try and stop this potentially deadly disease, we may face an epidemic which could effect everyone.
I agree I wonder how we can stop polluting our waters, while saving people from disease.
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ReplyDeleteThis sounds like it could be a big problem for California, if it isn't already. I found it interesting that it wasn't just the mosquitoes that are giving the WNV, but also the birds that come in contact with them. Is this problem under control now, or is it still going?
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ReplyDeleteIn your title, it says "No Water! More Mosquitoes!" which implies that the less water you have, the more mosquitoes you get. However, mosquitoes as well as many other insects lay their larva (eggs) in water. So shouldn't the little amount of water you guys have make less mosquitoes appear in California?
ReplyDeleteOr, does the lack of water make more mosquitoes group together at the few watering holes left? If more mosquitoes group together, disease could spread faster through the mosquitoes, eventually to birds and humans.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that the disease has already spread from mosquitos to birds. If the spreading of WNV continues, it could have a huge impact on CA (and possibly the rest of the country). What is being done to isolate the virus so it doesn't spread to all of California?
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered about the myth that pigeons could carry some types of diseases and you should be careful around them. I never really knew where those disease came from until now when I read your description and you article. Thanks for the info!
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