Tag Archives: Mosquitoes

South-West Nile Outbreak: Dallas Edition Day 15

by funklord

I can’t believe this is still going on, but it appears that the West Nile virus is in full outbreak mode.  1,590 cases, 66 deaths, and half of all reported are in Texas.  According to the report, and this still baffles my mind, the hot, dry weather is causing the mosquito boom.  I always thought they bred in old, stagnant water.  This is why I got out of entomology.

In New York, and this is interesting, they are spraying the rich neighborhoods for the pathogen carrying insects.  The Upper West Side is being coated with pesticide that is in such a small dose “It does not pose a threat to humans”, however they are telling everyone to stay inside, and to remove toys and clothes that are outside.  That sounds completely safe to me!

Resurgent Diseases: California Edition

by funklord

And the pestilence train keeps coming.  In San Diego County, 3 squirrels were found to have Bubonic Plague.  If for no other reason, go to the website to see the front page picture.  It’s absolutely adorable.  While still common, and no cause for alarm (don’t start killing these furry nut eaters), I do feel like it needs to be documented based on the sheer number of strange diseases that are rearing their heads.  This disease usually spreads to humans from flea bites, just like when it wipes out 1/4 of Europe.  As I reported earlier, there was a case of Bubonic Plague in Oregon.  Stray cat bite was the culprit there.

In local news, Typhus is back!  Two people have contracted Typhus from fleas found in the Burbank area.

I mentioned this yesterday, but it strikes m that fleas are also great carriers of disease, much like mosquitoes.  Mosquitoes are more mobile, but fleas have almost exclusive access to human beings.  These two critters are perfect harbingers.

Also, and I will go into this in my next post, but West Nile is closing in on California residents.  Two dead birds were found to be infected.  There have been several cases in 11 counties in California, including Santa Monica, and Studio City.

Mid-West Nile Outbreak Day 7

by funklord

According to the CDC, this outbreak of West Nile is the largest in US history. Why is this?  Mosquitoes multiply in standing water, streams, rivers, etc.  The Midwest is in a drought.  The amount of standing water is significantly less than it would be during a wet summer.  I am not entomologist, but this whole situation seems crazy to me.  I will say, and this is strictly to fuel the conspiracy flames, that a mosquito would be a perfect delivery system for any type of virus.  They are in most climates in the US, they are basically walking syringes (as are viruses), and they multiply like crazy.

What irked me in this article is that the CDC says that one in 500 are infected.  As I reported a few days ago, officials in Chicago found that 90% of the mosquitoes tested positive!  90%!  This whole thing is unbelievable.

Also, according to this article, there have been over 1,000 cases, and HALF of them are in Texas?  I KNOW it’s a big state.  I know this.  I’m just mentioning it because it stuck out to me.

 

First case in 1999.  Where did it come from?  I want to do a quick study on all the NEW virulent forms of disease.  Not new strains, that can be attributed to Antibiotics.  I mean entirely new, extremely deadly diseases.

Mid-West Nile Outbreak: Day 6

by funklord

In an attempt to alleviate the mosquito problem, and thus the West Nile situation, the government is various communities has decided to aerially spray pesticides on the towns.  As the article explains, these pesticides are responsible cor Colony Collapse disorder (the ongoing Bee die off), liver toxicity, AND have little to no effect on containing the mosquito epidemic.

 

I remember a few times, sitting in my bedroom with the window open, reading peacefully.  Breaking the silence was the rumbling of the M.A.D. (Mosquito Abatement District) trucks, clumsily coming down the road.  They had these hoses on the back, and they would, honest to God, be spraying a pesticide mist right at the houses.  I remember watching it creep up the driveway, and even as a goofy kid, I knew this was a really bad idea.  I would shut my window just as the mist splashed against window.  Common sense.  This is not the way to handle this problem.

Mid-West nile Virus Outbreak Day 3

by funklord

Also known as Egypt Fever, The West Nile Virus has been ripping through the Midwest and Texas this summer.  As you can see from this article, 90% of the Mosquitoes tested were positive for West Nile.

The real question is, how can we absorb the tax burden of vaccinating all these mosquitoes?