플로리다주는 조류와 동물들에서부터 인간에 이르기까지 모기에 의해서 퍼지는 치명적인 질환일 가능성이 있는 West Nile 바이러스에 대한 보건 경계를 곧 풀 예정이라고 주 보건 관계자가 금요일(현지시각)에 발표하였다.
Florida to Call Off West Nile Virus Alert
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Reuters) - Florida will soon lift its health alert for West Nile virus, a potentially fatal disease that is spread by mosquitoes from birds and animals to people, a state health official said Friday.
With mosquito activity slowing because of the cooler weather in the state, the number of cases of the disease have been on the decline, prompting the decision to lift the alert at year's end, said Florida Department of Health veterinarian Lisa Conti.
In this state of nearly 16 million, 11 people have been reported infected with West Nile virus since the disease surfaced in July.
While the alert will be over soon, Conti said Floridians should continue to take precautions against mosquitoes. She predicted that West Nile virus would return when mosquito season begins again in the spring.
"It's circulating in the bird and mosquito populations," Conti said.
The first traces of the disease in the state turned up in northern parts of Florida. Dead birds and farm animals turned up throughout the state, causing West Nile alerts to be issued in 53 of the state's 67 counties. Almost every major city in the state was placed on alert.
West Nile virus, which cannot be spread from person to person, can cause an inflammation of the brain known as encephalitis in the most severe cases. Elderly people and young children are most at risk.
Discovered in Uganda in 1937, the virus has also been found in the Middle East, Europe and western Asia. It has killed at least nine people since appearing in North America in 1999, when 62 cases were reported in the New York City area. There is no known cure.
출처 : http://news.lycos.com/news/story.asp?section=Science&storyId=305164
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