Deadly Outbreaks of West Nile Fever Kills Dozens in Greece, Israel

West Nile fever virus infects hundreds, killing dozens in Greece, Israel

As of September 20 (13:00 hours), some 234 “laboratory diagnosed cases of WNV infection have been reported to the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), the center reported. Some 183 “of which presented with neuro-invasive disease (WNND, encephalitisand/ or meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis)” and 51 cases with “mild symptoms (febrile syndrome).” Some 27 deaths were reported in patients, the weekly report said.

US WNV infections

As of September 18, 2018, a total of 47 states and the District of Columbia have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes in 2018. Overall, 1,077 cases of West Nile virus disease in people have been reported to CDC. Of these, 608 (56%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 469 (44%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. [CDC]

Hong Kong: Dengue Fever Outbreak

Meanwhile, dozens of people have been diagnosed with dengue fever in Hong Kong.

• Additional information available from FE-MIU via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

West Nile Virus (WNV) – Update

219 deaths caused by WNV infections in the U.S. (YTD)

As of October 23, 2012,  five thousand two hundred and one [4,725 cases tabulated] human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

• About 35% of the total cases were reported from Texas.

U.S. Update: West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET

Neuroinvasive disease cases comprise 51% of the reported total for the year with the remaining 49% recorded as nonneuroinvasive disease cases. Five hundred and sixty two WNV presumptive viremic blood donors (PVDs) have been reported at this time, CDC said.

Incidence by state map data description: West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease incidence maps reflect surveillance reports released by state and local health departments to CDC’s ArboNET system for public distribution. Map shows the incidence of human neuroinvasive disease (encephalitis, meningitis, and/or acute flaccid paralysis) by state for 2012 with shading ranging from .01 to 0.24, 0.25 to 0.49, 0.50 to 0.99, and greater than 1.0 per 100,000 population.

Related Links

• WNV Infections Continue Rising Posted October 22, 2012
• Rising Threat of Fungal Infections: Exserohilum Rostratum Posted October 11, 2012

• West Nile Virus Activity Intensifying Posted October 1, 2012

• United States: West Nile Virus (WNV) – [UPDATED Sept 20, 2012]
• WNV Cases Climb 71%, Deaths Up 89% Posted September 6, 2012
• U.S. Facing Worst Ever WNV Outbreak  Posted August 25, 2012

WNV Infections Continue Rising

More than 5,000 WNV infections reported to CDC

WNV infections in the U.S. have caused at least 183 deaths thus far in 2012.

At least five thousand one hundred and twenty-two [number of cases to be confirmed] West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from 48 states as of posting. The cases are from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

• About 70 percent of the cases have been reported from 8 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan, and Oklahoma).
• More than a third of all cases have been reported from Texas.
• More than 51% of the cases are classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis).

Multistate Fungal Meningitis Outbreak:

• 23 dead
• 285 infected
• Infections reported across 16 states

NOTE: 282 cases of fungal meningitis, stroke due to presumed fungal meningitis, or other central nervous system-related infection meeting the outbreak case definition, plus 3 peripheral joint infections (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, elbow). No deaths have been associated with peripheral joint infections, CDC reported.

Spain Earthquake

Large scale groundwater extraction caused a 2011 earthquake in Spain which left at least nine people dead, more than 100 injured and thousands homeless,  researchers said.

• A 5.1 magnitude  earthquake near the city of Lorca in southeastern Spain occurred at a shallow depth 3 km, causing extensive damage.
• Researchers found the water table in the Alto Guadalentin Basin had dropped by 250 meters since 1960 due to groundwater extraction.
• “Modeling results are consistent with a groundwater crustal unloading process, providing a reasonable explanation for the observed fault slip pattern.” They said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Rising Threat of Fungal Infections: Exserohilum Rostratum

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,252 Days Left

[October 11, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,252 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Exserohilum Rostratum

Several of the meningitis patients who received epidural steroid injections (medication injected into the spine), have had strokes related to the infection, according to CDC. The meningitis was found to be caused by fungi that are common in the environment but rarely cause infection.

Exserohilum is a common mold found in soil and on plants, especially grasses. Exserohilum can cause keratitis (eye inflammation), subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), osteomyelitis (bone infection), and sinusitis. (Source: CDC)

Fungal Meningitis Outbreak in the U.S.

• Case Count: 137  [October 10, 2012 5:45:00 PM EDT]
• States: 10
• Deaths: 12

West Nile Virus Infections

“Four thousand seven hundred and thirteen [4,713] human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET [4,249 cases cited elsewhere on the CDC website] from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.” CDC reported.

• 168 deaths reported
• Cases reported from 47 states and District of Columbia
• More than 70 percent of the cases have been reported in 8 states: Texas, Mississippi, Michigan, South Dakota, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Illinois and California.
• Texas reported about 40 percent of all cases.
• The Dallas-Fort Worth area has reported 33 deaths, the highest number in the country.
• “The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday that health officials in Tarrant County, home to Fort Worth, may have vastly underreported cases of the serious neuroinvasive form of West Nile,” a report said.

WNV activity reported from 47 states and DC

West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET, by state, United States, 2012 (as of October 9, 2012). 

U.S. Agri Disaster Areas

USAD has designated 64 counties across six states as agricultural disaster areas. The disaster list also includes independent city of Charlottesville in Virginia and Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana.

• In Montana and surrounding states—Idaho and the Dakotas—losses have been caused by “the combined effects of early spring frosts and freezes, drought, excessive heat, high winds, wildfires, insects, hail, lightning and tornadoes that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues.”

• North Carolina counties were designated as disaster areas due to losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred May 14-16, 2012.

• In Virginia disaster areas were declared due to losses caused by excessive rain, hail, high winds and lightning associated with a derecho.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

West Nile Virus Activity Intensifying

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,262 Days Left

[October 1, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,262 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

More than 4,500 West Nile virus infections and 169 deaths reported in 47 states and D.C.

As of October 1, 2012 more than 4,500 human West Nile virus infections including 169 deaths [numbers to be confirmed] have been reported this year in the following states:

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

As of October 1, 2012, a total of 47 states and D.C. have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. At least four thousand five hundred (4,500)  human West Nile virus infections including 169 deaths [numbers to be confirmed] have occurred, so far this year. The reported WNV cases include 51% neuroinvasive disease cases (such as meningitis or encephalitis). 

Footnote: The map displays white areas that represent no WNV activity reported, light green areas that represent any WNV activity* , dark green circles that represent disease cases, and dark green triangles that represent presumptive viremic blood donors.

* Includes WNV human disease cases, presumptive viremic blood donors, veterinary disease cases and infections in mosquitoes, birds, and sentinel animals.
† Presumptive viremic blood donors have a positive screening test which has not necessarily been confirmed.

Map shows the distribution of WNV activity* (shaded in light green), human infections (dark green circles), and presumptive viremic blood donors (dark green triangles) occurring during 2012 by state. If West Nile virus infection is reported from any area of a state, that entire state is shaded. Source: CDC/ Vector-Borne Diseases

Non-human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from the following states:

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Other Disasters/ Significant Events

• E. coli outbreak at Alberta beef plant
• Spike in chickenpox cases reported on Kenai Peninsula
• Deadly New Virus Uncovered In Africa

• Disease hits N.C. deer numbers

• Late-summer outbreak kills hundreds of whitetails

• Deadly EHD confirmed in six Wisconsin counties

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Monsoon Rains Destroy 15,000+ Homes Across Pakistan, Killing Many

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,275 Days Left

[September 18, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,275 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Pakistan: Monsoon Rains

• Monsoon rains have left about 1,000 people killed or injured, destroying more than 15,000 homes, and damaging thousands more, across Pakistan since August 22.

See also: Cloudbursts Kill Dozens in India

United States: West Nile Virus (WNV) – [UPDATED Sept 20, 2012]

• As of September 18, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. At least three thousand five hundred and seven  human West Nile virus infections including 134 deaths [to be confirmed] have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET, United States, 2012 (Sept 18, 2012)

As of September 18, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. At least three thousand five hundred and seven (3,507)  human West Nile virus infections including 134 deaths have resulted  from WNV infection across 35 states, so far this year. The reported WNV cases include 52% neuroinvasive disease cases (such as meningitis or encephalitis). Source: CDC/ Vector-Borne Diseases

Footnote: The map displays white areas that represent no WNV activity reported, light green areas that represent any WNV activity* , dark green circles that represent disease cases, and dark green triangles that represent presumptive viremic blood donors.

* Includes WNV human disease cases, presumptive viremic blood donors, veterinary disease cases and infections in mosquitoes, birds, and sentinel animals.
† Presumptive viremic blood donors have a positive screening test which has not necessarily been confirmed.

Map shows the distribution of WNV activity* (shaded in light green), human infections (dark green circles), and presumptive viremic blood donors (dark green triangles) occurring during 2012 by state. If West Nile virus infection is reported from any area of a state, that entire state is shaded.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

WNV Cases Climb 71%, Deaths Up 89%

2,280 West Nile cases and 87 deaths reported in 2012: CDC

WNV cases have climbed by 71 percent and the deaths by 89 percent since August 21, 2012.

• WNV cases include 54% neuroinvasive disease cases and 46% nonneuroinvasive disease cases. Three hundred and thirty five WNV presumptive viremic blood donors (PVDs) have been reported as of September 4, 2012, CDC said.
• About 71  percent of the cases this year have been reported in six states: Texas (45%), South Dakota (6%), Oklahoma (6%), Mississippi (6%), Michigan (5%) and Louisiana (4%).

Epidemic/Epizootic West Nile Virus in the United States

At least 87 people have died from WNV infection in the U.S. so far this year. The 2,280 reported WNV cases include 1,069 (54%) neuroinvasive disease cases and 924 (46%) nonneuroinvasive disease cases. Three hundred and thirty five WNV presumptive viremic blood donors (PVDs) have been reported as of September 4, 2012, CDC said.

Data table  [Sourced from CDC]

Two thousand two hundred eighty (2,280) human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Non-human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

CDC Links

• Further explanation of WN meningitis and/or encephalitis.
• Further explanation of acute flaccid paralysis
• Detailed WNV case counts by state

Previous Entries

• U.S. Facing Worst Ever WNV Outbreak Posted  August 25, 2012
• State of Emergency Declared in Oregon Due to Wildfire Posted August 18, 2012

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

U.S. Facing Worst Ever WNV Outbreak

West Nile Cases Surge in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH) have confirmed 53 new human cases of the West Nile infections, marking  145 reported cases and 9 deaths so far this year.

At least 31 of the new cases are neuroinvasive disease, which infects the spinal cord and brain and can lead to death, LDHH reported.

• United States is in the midst of “one of the largest West Nile outbreaks ever seen,” said Dr. Lyle Peterson, director of vector-borne infectious diseases section at CDC.
• About 1,331 reported cases of the disease have occurred in 38 states including about 640 Neuroinvasive disease cases, leading to at least 46 deaths so far this year.
• Nine other states have reported “some activity.”
• Texas, the worst-hit state, has reported 641 cases with 24 deaths so far this year.
• Since 1999, more than 30,000 people in the United States have been infected with West Nile virus. Occasionally, a person infected with the mosquito-borne disease may develop more severe symptoms including  “West Nile encephalitis,” “West Nile meningitis” or “West Nile meningoencephalitis.” CDC reported.
• The 1,331 cases thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the third week in August since West Nile virus was first detected in the United States in 1999.
• About 75 percent of the cases have been reported from 5 states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Oklahoma) and almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas.
• About 13,000 of the individuals who have been reported as being infected West Nile virus since 1999 have been seriously ill, and more than 1,200 have died, CDC said.

 WNV Infection Causes Kidney Disease

WNV infection causes serious and lasting kidney damage, according to a new report by Baylor College of Medicine. Researchers found that 4 in 10 patients had varying stages of kidney disease caused by WNV infection.

About 45,000 people in Houston area have been infected with the virus, many of whom are unaware of it, the report said.

West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET, by state, United States, 2012 (as of August 21, 2012)

One thousand three hundred thirty-one (1,331) human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

• See also: State of Emergency Declared in Oregon Due to Wildfire Posted August 18, 2012

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• South Korea. Reactor No. 1 at the Ulchin nuclear power plant located in South Korea’s North Kyongsang province stopped operating on Thursday for “unknown reasons,” the Yonhap news agency reported.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar