August 12, 2012

• update: West Nile Virus, what you can do....For my Texas friends and visitors

  Some Health information from my friend the Eye Surgeon to her family and friends.

  Edit::      City of Carrolton, Tx has established a West Nile Hotline:  972-466-3202
  
  I have her permission to pass this on.  If you live in NE, Ncentral, or E TX, or SE OK, this may be important information for you because this is the area that is being talked about here and WEST NILE VIRUS EPIDEMIC is the topic...

   News article on West Nile, Another news article about combating West Nile...
  
  

  Dallas County declares state of emergency due to West Nile

  
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      I wanted to bring to your attention something I do not think is getting the attention it deserves and consequently you may not realize the real risk it is posing for all of us in  Texas, especially evidently here in North Texas. I gave a Safety Briefing  to my Civil Air Patrol Squadron tonight and felt strongly to pass this on to you, in case you had not heard of it.
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   As of  5: 30 pm Yesterday , this disease , transmitted by  a strain of vigorous mosquito common in Texas has been pronounced an official epidemic in North Texas/ Dallas County..  We have had a death in Hunt county ,and 2 in Rockwall , and 11 in Dallas, 4 in Denton .
  
   The serious problem  that should make us all proactive. According to the CDC, is that the infected mosquito population unfortunately almost impossible to control and stop- and is only expected to get worse in the years ahead. It may be exponential.
  
   You may do your own research , But here are some quick details:
  
   1) It came to this country in 1999, worse in 2004, and now  2012 is the first year worse since then- because of our mild warm winter, wet spring and hot summer . August and September are the peak months, and it will peak in 2 weeks. The virus in infected birds and Mosquitos is all over the US , but worse now in Texas, Okla, and Mississippi. Sparrows and  Robins and hawks carry the virus in this area most commonly , maybe continually as carriers  and may not appear and may be spared, providing more chances for biting mosquitos to get the virus from them . The most common birds to get sick  and die are crows and Blue jays.  Mosquitoes transmit  viral disease to humans and of animals, horses are the most vulnerable.  There is a vaccine for them , but it does not always work.. 
  
  The mosquito breeds in standing, non - chlorinated water, growing from eggs to mosquitos  in as little as  4- days in this hot weather , to up to a month in cooler weather.
  
    2) The incubation period  in a human before one sees disease varies according to immune status ,and may be 3-15 days. Out of 150 people bitten with an infected mosquito, only 20 will have a disease they recognize as a disease-  This  most common illness is called  West Nile Fever , with fever, headache, bodyaches and tiredness as the predominant symptoms . They may, in addition, have lymph node swelling and body rash. this may last a few days to weeks to rarely, months.
  
     3)1 out of 100- 150 will develop  West Nile Encephalisitis or meningitis -  young children and babies, people over 50, and those with poor immune systems from a variety of causes are the most vulnerable .  This is a neuroinvasive disease with encephalitis and / or meningitis - paralysis, seizures, etc and 1 of 6  with this form  die. The 5 out of 6 who do not, are often left with severe neurological deficits and paralysis .
     4)Since it is a virus, there is no medicine , However ,there are reports of High dose Vit C ( 50-100 Gm a day)stopping the progression and cure in 2-3 days , as in many viral illnesses-  Reference the book by Dr. Thomas Levy ,  Curing the Incurable. 
  
  
   What can you do ? Do something , and do what you Can .
  
   1) get rid - today, of  all standing water around your house .Empty Bird baths, old tires, ceramic pots or trays, etc. Use fish in tanks that you can ( non - chlorinated ones  or the mosquito torpedos or mosquito dunks that have BTI ( a type of bacteria like probiotics that discourage maturity of larval forms. Leave No puddles , an inch of water can breed mosquitos, and attract them. Landscape around your home in the fall to help keep standing water away next year.
  
   2) for outside waterers for your animals , empty them and refill if possible every day or every 2 day and scrub out to kill new larval hatch.  Use the BTI in horse troughs, or other helps ( research this for yourself and your situation)
  
  3) Do not go out at dawn or dusk when mosquito activity is at its highest. ( I would not go out at night until October unless you have to do so , and then only with repellent of some kind)
  
   4) wear long sleeved shirts tucked in and long pants and wear strong mosquito repellent of your choice - DEET is the best commercial , longest acting , but be careful with children under 2 ,  There are other more  natural products , but need reapplication often . Keep them readily available at all of your doors and in all of your bathrooms , so it is easy to use and find.
  
  5) keep ceiling fans going in houses - mosquitos hate wind . If you hear them buzz, turn off the light and they will land on the wall or ceiling and you can kill them better or vacuum them up .
  
  6) do not leave lights on around your doors - they are attracted to them
  
  7_Blue is their favorite color and floral prints . Do not start a slapping frenzy if they bite, you will have 2 times as much be attracted by it .
  
  8) Have a  family Discussion/ " safety  briefing " about this , and discuss together the steps all of you can take to eradicate breeding places around your home. Ask every one to repeat the information to be sure they understand what they need to be doing . Assign your children a sibling buddy to help them remember dressing and repellant guidelines as well as your help , etc Pray about it , and ask the Lord to protect your family as you seek to do what is right . "  The Horse is prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord " " commit your plans to the Lord and He will make your paths straight" . Psalm 91.
  
  9)  Take 4-5 Grams of Vit. C daily and other anti- viral  supplements  and a healthy diet to boost your immune system  - Zinc, Elderberry,D , E and K , Minerals  Etc,  But do not rely on this - do all of 1-7 above ....
  
    Research the  use of IV Vitamin C , and prepare yourself with a document that  requests it if you are emergently hospitalized for this or any serious viral illness . Find a Doctor who knows about this. Unfortunately, since big pharma makes no money on this , it is little known. I use Abrams Royal Pharmacy to supply me with non- corn derived ( not GMO grown in China ) Vit. C. You could mention this to your family doctor and perhaps help them learn something if they do not(  Dr. Levy and Abrams Royal )
  
  
   Please do not rely on this short and abbreviated information , research your self and inform your family members. Please do not be the one , even out of 100 and 150 to contract this serious disease that is causing more problems than polio did.
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  If these notes are any help to you, I'm glad.
  
  Blessings!  
  
  
  
  
  

  • 5:15 pm
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