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Posted by barrykind (Member # 35) on :

More West Nile fever mosquitoes found

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Stuart Winer Jul. 30, 2002

More West Nile fever-infected mosquitoes have been found at different locations around the country, the Environment Ministry said yesterday.

Tests by the ministry's division for pest surveillance and control found infected mosquitoes in the area of the kibbutzim Samar, Yotvata, and Ketura in the South, and the Michael reservoir in the North.

This marks the fifth time in the past two months that mosquitoes carrying the virus that can be passed to humans have been found in Israel.

However, Yossi Inbar, Environment Ministry deputy director-general in charge of infrastructure, said that there is no cause for alarm. "We are finding more cases because we have better tests this year," said Inbar.

The Environment Ministry said that the Hevel Ayalot and Hof Hacarmel regional councils had been notified of the findings and that insecticides were being sprayed over the infected areas.

"The idea of the tests is to get an early warning, and then activate the local authorities to kill the mosquitoes," said Inbar.

He noted that the virus that causes the fever is carried by wild birds, making it difficult to contain.

"It is spread by wild birds and they move around a lot. This always happens, it has no borders," said Inbar.

Mosquitoes pick up the West Nile fever virus from the birds and can then transmit it to humans. So far no incidents of human infection of the virus have been found in Israel or the surrounding region.

Inbar said that in previous years the first cases of human infection were reported in July, with the high point for infection from mid-August to mid-September.

"The coming days will tell," he said.

The fever, which is not contagious, can be fatal to those with a weakened immune system. Last year, 37 people fell ill with West Nile fever; two died. In 2000, there were 430 cases and 29 fatalities.

"sound Familiar folks"-we have these here in Orange, Texas

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