By Kathianne Boniello
When it comes to the West Nile virus, the state Health Department’s work is never done.
Or so the department said in a news release last week as the state prepared for this year’s expected onset of West Nile and analyzes information from this summer’s outbreak.
The West Nile virus made its first appearance in the Western Hemisphere in Queens’ Powells Cove in August 1999 and went on to claim the lives of four borough residents that year. Dozens of people throughout Queens and the city were infected with the mosquito-borne virus, which produces flu-like symptoms including achiness, fever, sore joints, muscle pain and headaches. Young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to the illness.
The state Health Department announced last week it will spend the winter updating its West Nile Virus Response Plan.
“We cannot afford to relax our vigilance against this very serious health threat,” state Health Commissioner Dr. Antonia Novello said.
The response plan includes a strategy to fight the spread of West Nile and incorporates disease prevention, human, animal and mosquito surveillance and spraying when necessary.
Though Queens residents were hard hit in 1999 when the virus was initially discovered, human cases have declined since. In 2001 only two Queens people were infected with the virus and no borough residents died.
Statewide last year Long Island appeared to be the hardest hit when it came to West Nile, the state Health Department said. In 2000 Nassau County had the most dead birds and Suffolk County had the most infected dead birds.
Originally identified as St. Louis Encephalitis when it was discovered by an alert doctor at Flushing Hospital, the virus sparked fear and controversy in the five boroughs as the city used pesticides in an attempt to reduce the mosquito population.
Birds and other animals proved susceptible to West Nile and in the three years since the virus was found in Queens the city Health Department has kept records of the number of infected birds and mosquitoes.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
