Health officials alarmed by unprecedented July spike in West Nile-infected mosquitoes in 2 major cities
The blood-sucking bugs in all seven counties of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area tested positive for the disease, according to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD).
MMCD ecologists processed nearly 200 mosquito pools and found Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the species most blamed for spreading the West Nile virus, were "active in some of the highest numbers" ever recorded, according to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Of 133 pools tested, 34 tested positive for the virus, showing a rate of more than 25% positivity, MMCD reported.
The rate is one of the highest recorded in the month of July, more in line with numbers seen in late August, when mosquito populations wind down.
Positive West Nile virus samples were also found in mosquitoes in other states, including Georgia, where they were confirmed in three different areas of Atlanta.
Though the city is working on coordinating insect control, officials asked residents near affected areas to protect themselves from bites and eliminate standing water to prevent mosquito breeding.
The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Originating between mosquitoes and birds in Africa and Europe, the virus spread to the U.S. in 1999 when an outbreak in New York sent nearly 60 people to the hospital over two months.
Most of the patients had clinical signs of brain swelling, and seven patients died, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health.
While the disease can be more detrimental to older patients and those with muscle weakness, MDH officials said most people bitten by infected mosquitoes experience either mild symptoms or none at all.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
7 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Hengrui Shares Jump on GSK Deal Worth Up To $12 Billion
Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. shares rallied to their highest levels in four years after GSK Plc agreed to pay $500 million upfront for the company's potential chronic lung disease treatment. The firm's Shanghai-listed stock rose as much as 8.16% to reach its highest level since July 2021, while its Hong Kong-listed shares were up as much as 10.95% on Monday.
CBS News
12 hours ago
- CBS News
Looking to beat the heat in the Twin Cities? Here's a list of cooling centers around the metro
An excessive heat warning is in place across the Twin Cities metro Sunday as feels-like temperatures surpass 100 degrees. WCCO has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for Sunday due to the dangerous heat, as well as the risk for severe storms. For those looking for a place to stay cool, there are options. The following places have cooling centers open across the Twin Cities for free during business hours: For a complete list of cooling centers open in Hennepin County, click here. Minneapolis also has several free pools, beaches and splash pads to help people beat the heat. To see a map of all the cooling centers and beaches in Ramsey County, click here. To stay cool, experts encourage people to limit time in direct sunlight and drink plenty of water. If you're going to be outside in the heat, doctors encourage wearing loose, light clothing and seeking shade when you can. It's recommended that anyone working or exercising in the elements drink at least one cup of water for every 20 minutes. Older adults, young kids and anyone with underlying conditions are at greater risk from extreme heat. In Minnesota, the number of heat-related hospitalizations spikes at a feels-like temperature of only 86 degrees. Cramps, rapid pulse and dizziness are early signs to watch out for when it comes to heat-related illness. Adam Del Rosso and Aki Nace contributed to this report.
CBS News
17 hours ago
- CBS News
2 years after brain swelling scare, Shorewood toddler is back to her spunky self
Four-year-old Sydney Marcus is a fast-moving, spunky kiddo. "[She was] just very chatty, mobile, running around, learning, just like a little sponge," Sydney Marcus' mom, Britta Marcus, said. But one night two years ago, Sydney Marcus flipped like a light switch. "It was kind of like a one-in-a-million fluke, essentially and her body reacted to it and started attacking itself," Britta Marcus said. She says her toddler went to bed with a run-of-the-mill fever, cold and runny nose — and didn't wake up. "It was just a overnight light switch of where she went from like a healthy, normal kid, and woke up unresponsive," Britta Marcus said. Sydney Marcus was rushed to the hospital where doctors determined a rare, inflammatory condition called cerebellitis was causing swelling, fluid and pressure build-up in her brain. The cause was a combination of common cold viruses. "It's extremely rare. I mean, there's there some case reports that we'll talk about it being one in 500,000 and even one in a million, if million, it's extremely rare," Sydney Marcus' neurosurgeon at Children's Minnesota, Dr. Meysam Kebriaei, said. Sydney Marcus underwent two emergency surgeries at Children's Minnesota. "They removed a small piece of her skull and put a drain into her fluid space to try to relieve the pressure that way," Kebriaei said. The next challenge came post-surgery: rehab. She had to relearn everything — from walking to talking to swallowing her food. "It was literally starting over, like, with a newborn," Sydney Marcus' dad, Ross Marcus, said. "From a neurosurgical perspective, she's 100% and, like, that's, that's the emotional piece, right? Like, we're incredibly lucky to be in this situation." Thanks to physical therapy and rehab, Sydney Marcus is now returning to her spunky self. "I think she's going to have a bright future," Kebriaei said. These days, Sydney Marcus is busy blowing bubbles and chasing her two older sisters. "We were just could not have been more impressed, truly, with the care, the diversity of thought and the consistency of like, their presence and their support of our family," Ross Marcus said. The Marcus family says it's that support that saved their daughter's life. "Giving people hope is something you don't have the opportunity to do a lot, and in those darkest moments, is what really pushes you through and really gets you through and helps you fight for your child, right? And if we can provide that, I mean, we will do it all day long," Ross Marcus said. Doctors say cerebellitis is rare and even more rare in children. Doctors reiterate a common cold is typically nothing to worry about.
