100Feed: West Nile Virus Spreads – Warnings and Symptoms

 

By Samantha R. Selman
Photo by Wanda King

Last Wednesday, the mayor of Dallas declared a state of emergency in the ninth largest U.S. city to combat the spread of West Nile virus infections, which have been more prevalent than usual in Texas and Oklahoma this year. There have been more cases of West Nile virus reported so far this year than any year since the disease was first detected in the United States in 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control said on its website. Nearly half of the 693 human cases of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus infections reported this year to the CDC have been in Texas, along with 14 of the 26 deaths confirmed by the federal agency as of Tuesday.

The Texas health department said the number of cases of West Nile in the state had reached 465 and there had been 17 deaths. There is a lag in the CDC confirming cases and deaths. The emergency declaration by Mayor Mike Rawlings followed a similar action last week by Dallas County officials and paves the way for aerial pesticide spraying to begin this week. Aerial spraying also is being used elsewhere, including in neighborhoods in New York City and Sacramento, California, to combat the spread of West Nile virus. Officials say such spraying is the most effective way to fight the mosquitoes that carry the disease despite safety concerns about exposing people to chemical pesticides.

We are on track to have the worst year ever for West Nile virus in the United States. It is unclear why the number of West Nile cases is so high. Scientists believe it could be related to a warmer winter and abnormally rainy spring. Wildfires, which have terrorized many of the states also suffering from an epidemic of West Nile Virus, are thought to be a contributing factor. Mosquitoes, which are infamous for their tendency to spread the disease, thrive in warm climates and places where water is readily available. Experts in the Dallas  area suggest watering less, turning off sprinklers, and removing any standing water from around your home will help keep WNV-carrying mosquitoes away from your home.

West Nile Virus mainly infects birds, but is known to infect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, domestic rabbits, crocodiles and alligators. The main route of human infection is through the bite of an infected mosquito. It should be noted that approximately eighty percent of West Nile virus infections in humans are without symptoms. The West Nile virus produces one of three different outcomes in humans. The first is an asymptomatic infection; the second is a mild febrile syndrome termed “West Nile fever”; the third is aneuro-invasive disease termed West Nile meningitis or encephalitis. The population proportion of these three states is roughly 110:30:1. The febrile stage has an incubation period of two to eight days followed by fever, headache, chills, diaphoresis (excessive sweating), weakness, lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), drowsiness, pain in the joints and symptoms like those of influenza. Occasionally, some patients experience short-lived gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or diarrhea. Symptoms are generally resolved within seven to 10 days, although fatigue can persist for some weeks and lymphadenopathy up to two months. The more dangerous encephalitis is characterized by similar early symptoms, but also a decreased level of consciousness, sometimes approaching near-coma. Deep tendon reflexes are hyperactive at first, later diminished. Recovery is marked by a long convalescence with fatigue.

The virus is transmitted through mosquito vectors, which bite and infect birds. The birds are amplifying hosts, developing sufficient viral levels to transmit the infection to other biting mosquitoes which go on to infect other birds (in the Western Hemisphere, the American robin and the American crow are the most common carriers) and also humans. The infected mosquito species vary according to geographical area; in the US, Culex pipiens(Eastern US), Culex tarsalis (Midwest and West), and Culex quinquefasciatus (Southeast) are the main sources.

There is no vaccine for humans. A vaccine for horses based on killed viruses exists; some zoos have given this vaccine to their birds, although its effectiveness is unknown. Dogs and cats show few if any signs of infection. There have been no known cases of direct canine-human or feline-human transmission; although these pets can become infected, it is unlikely they are, in turn, capable of infecting native mosquitoes and thus continuing the disease cycle.

Avoiding mosquito bites is the most straightforward means to avoid infection; remaining indoors (while preventing mosquitoes from entering) at dawn and dusk, wearing light-colored clothing that covers arms and legs, and using insect repellents on both skin and clothing (such as DEET, picaradin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus for skin and permethrin for clothes). If one becomes infected, generally, treatment is purely supportive: analgesia for the pain of neurologic diseases, and rehydration for nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; encephalitis may also require airway protection and seizure management.

The use of pesticide spraying to combat mosquitoes and curb outbreaks of West Nile virus has sparked concern regarding the health effects of the chemicals used, but experts say, in these cases, the benefits of spraying far outweigh the risks. Aerial pesticide spraying began on Thursday in Dallas, where an outbreak of West Nile virus has infected 200 people and killed 10. Pesticide spraying also recently began in parts of New York City. There are several reasons why aerial pesticide spraying for West Nile is considered safe. For one, these sprays use very small amounts of pesticides — much lower than the amounts used on agricultural crops, said Robert Peterson, a professor of entomology at Montana State University. Even if someone was outside during the spraying, “the amount of insecticides that they would be exposed to is below any amount known to cause any adverse effects,” Peterson said. Because the exposure to these pesticides is negligible, the risks to people’s health are negligible.

During a spraying, a tiny cloud of aerosolized pesticide is released from a plane. The droplets are very small, and intended to fall on, and kill, mosquitoes. Even larger insects are typically not affected by the spraying, because the droplets bounce right off them, according to Peterson. In addition, the modern pesticides used in these sprays have a very short life in the environment, and are degraded by sunlight into non-toxic chemicals. “It will kill the things you want it to, and disappear very quickly thereafter,” David Savitz, an environmental epidemiologist at Brown University, said. When public health is threatened, authorities must balance the risks of an action — in this case, exposure to pesticides — with the benefits.

In Dallas, where West Nile cases have reached a high level, authorities have made a sound judgment to use pesticides. To avoid direct exposure to pesticides, the New York City Department of Health recommends people stay indoors during the spraying when possible, and bring children’s toys and belongings inside. Generally, there have been concerns over pesticide exposure for pregnant women, because it’s known that the fetus is especially sensitive to environmental chemicals. Exposure to a large amount of any substance, including pesticides, can be harmful. People exposed to large amounts of pesticides, can experience acute neurological problems.

100Feed: Pet Ownership Down In U.S. Since Recession

By Bonnie Kavoussi

Since the beginning of the recession, many Americans have given up on having kids. It seems they also have given up on having pets.

Americans now own fewer pets than in 2006, according to a new study by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). As a result, the U.S. pet population has shrunk. (Hat tip: Time.)

Pets still are popular: 56 percent of all U.S. households owned a pet at the end of last year. But that share is down 2 percent from the end of 2006, according to the study. And pet ownership has fallen across all categories of animal: cats, dogs, birds, horses, specialty pets and exotic pets.

The U.S. population of dogs, cats, pet birds, and horses has plunged. There now are 3 percent fewer dogs, 9 percent fewer cats, 26 percent fewer pet birds and 33 percent fewer horses than before the recession.

Pets can be expensive. Cats and dogs cost more than $1,000 to take care of during the first year, and more than $500 per year after that, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). (Find more information about the cost of pets here.)

In a similar trend, the U.S. birth rate is projected to plunge to a 25-year low this year, after peaking before the recession, according to Demographic Intelligence. It costs between $12,290 to $14,320 per year to raise a child in a middle-income family, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, the median U.S. household’s annual income was $50,020 as of January, according to Sentier Research, 8 percent less than at the end of 2007.

The economy could be on the upswing. Americans recently have been indulging in more haircuts, dinners out and plastic surgeries. But the pace of consumer spending growth has slowed sharply over the past year, according to the Commerce Department.

100Feed: Overweight Shelter Cat Weighs Almost 40 Pounds

Meow is a true fat cat. The orange-and-white tabby weighs in at almost 40 pounds. According to The Associated Press, the big guy has to waddle to get around due to his weight, but is trying to drop some of the extra cushioning so he can be adopted.

Meow ended up at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society in New Mexico after his 87-year-old owner could no longer care for the feline. Shelter workers say that the 2-year-old tabby has a cuddly demeanor to match his sweet, mushy face, and that he will certainly make a great companion. He just needs to shed some weight first.

Meow is currently living with a foster family and is being kept on a special diet. The big kitty must drop 10 pounds before he moves on to a permanent home.

Shelter employees are amazed and confused by how Meow could have reached 40 pounds in only two years, but believe the weight gain resulted from a nutritionally unbalanced diet. To be safe, the tabby has undergone testing to make sure that he doesn’t have any serious medical issues.

Surprisingly, Meow is not the fattest cat of all time. That title belongs to Himmy, an Australian tabby that weighed 47 pounds. The record may have been broken in the decades since Himmy reigned supreme, but Guinness World Records has stopped accepting applications for the “fattest cat” title so as not to encourage people to overfeed their pets.

Failure to earn the heavyweight title is no concern for Meow. He’s working hard to make his weight go in the other direction, dropping pounds so he can play and scamper without quickly tiring out.

Those of you who are interested in Meow can follow his progress on the shelter’s Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/sfhumanesociety ).

100Feed: How Smart is Your Cat?

But how smart are cats? Sure, they can groom themselves, have a natural inclination to use the litter box and are easily amused, but not too many have a repertoire of tricks or follow commands. Those who have more than one cat probably differentiate their kitties in terms of their smarts (being “the dumb one” doesn’t mean you’re loved any less!), so just like any other animal, we know there is an intelligence hierarchy.

There’s no scientific method to determine how brainy your cat actually is — but we can try to figure it out! CatChannel.com devised this clever IQ test, which could indicate you’re housing the feline Einstein. Find out if your cat is about to take over the world . . . or just that comfy sofa cushion.

1. When you open a can of cat food with an electric can opener, what does your cat do?

a) Runs and hides under the bed
b) Looks up briefly, then gets back to napping
c) Immediately races into the kitchen

2. When you get out the pet carrier, what does your cat do?

a) Gives it a quick glance
b) Runs away, but will come back if offered a treat
c) Hides and won’t come out

3. How often does your cat persuade you to get out of bed early to fix her breakfast?

a) Never
b) Once in a while
c) Every day

4. Has your cat ever learned to do something just by watching you do it, such as how to open a cupboard door or turn off a light switch?

a) No
b) Yes, one or two easy procedures like how to open the box of cat treats
c) Yes. There are many things my cat has learned to do just by observing me.

5. If you come home at the same time every day, does your cat wait for your arrival, apparently aware that you have a regular return time?

a) No
b) Yes. He’s usually waiting for me by the door.
c) Yes. As soon as I walk in, he escorts me to the kitchen so I can get him dinner.

6. If a piece of food or a cat toy is out of your cat’s reach or trapped behind an object, what does your cat do?

a) Paws at it once or twice, but gives up if that doesn’t work
b) Tries to retrieve the item with her mouth and one of her paws and gives up after several failed attempts
c) Uses both of her paws and her mouth to grasp the item and won’t quit until she’s successful

7. Does your cat enjoy playing games with you?

a) Not at all
b) Occasionally
c) Very much so – especially challenging games like hide-and-go-seek

8. If your cat sees a bird outside the window, what does it do?

a) Bangs his head against the glass, trying to reach the bird
b) Paws madly at the window and yowls until I shut the blinds
c) Races to the door and meows until I let him outside

9. If you’ve ever moved your cat’s feeding dishes or litter box from one part of the house to another, how long did it take her to get used to the new location?

a) Several weeks
b) A few days
c) One day or less

10. When you call your cat’s name, what does he do?

a) Nothing
b) Looks my way for a second or turns his ears in my direction
c) Immediately runs toward me

11. Does your cat ever get bored with her toys and create her own amusements using your socks, the goldfish bowl, the tassels on your drapes, etc.?

a) My cat’s not very interested in toys.
b) Sometimes
c) Almost daily

12. If a guest teased or pestered your cat in the past, does your cat single out that person as trouble – for example, by avoiding that person but allowing other guests to handle him?

a) No. My cat acts the same toward everyone.
b) He does prefer some people over others, but there’s no clear reason for his preferences.
c) Most definitely! My cat remembers who gave him grief and does not forget.

13. How often do you come home from work to discover that your cat has gotten into mischief while you were away?

a) Never
b) Now and then
c) All the time

14. While petting your cat, does she let you know where she most wants to be stroked and for how long?

a) No. She becomes extremely relaxed and doesn’t care where or how long she’s being stroked.
b) She purrs if she likes what I’m doing and growls or hisses if I pet her where she doesn’t want to be touched.
c) She moves around to make it easier for me to pet certain parts of her body.

15. What happens when you try to teach your cat a trick?

a) My cat never figures out what I’m trying to teach him.
b) After several training sessions, my cat is pretty good at it.
c) My cat masters the trick after one short training session.

16. After you’ve taught your cat a trick, will she still remember how to do it a month from now if you haven’t done any refresher sessions?

a) Not likely
b) Probably
c) Definitely

17. When your cat wants something from you, what does he do?

a) Purrs
b) Meows a little more loudly than usual
c) Makes a variety of vocalizations, depending on what he wants

18. How often does your cat coax you into playtime?

a) Rarely
b) Sometimes
c) Frequently

19. How does your cat react when the litter box needs cleaning?

a) Goes in the same spot until I notice the mountain inside the litter box
b) Starts using the planters for a litter box or goes outside the litter pan
c) Goes outside the litter box and meows loudly to get the point across

20. When your cat’s food bowl is empty, what does he do to remedy the situation?

a) Sits quietly in the cat tree and waits for me to feed him
b) Leaps onto my lap and meows until I realize he’s hungry
c) Opens the cupboard where the bag of cat food is stored and rips it open

SCORING

Give your cat one point for every “c” answer. Deduct one point for every “a” answer. A “b” answer is a neutral response and doesn’t affect the score. Tally up the total number of points, and grade your cat according to the scale below.

Less than 5 points: Smarts aren’t your kitty’s strongest suit, but chances are that your cat is a wonderful companion, even if he doesn’t know how to open up the pantry to get out a treat!

6 – 15 points: When it comes to bell curves, your feline’s where most cats are: right in the middle. Your cat has average intelligence and can learn a few tricks, but has no desire to take apart the cat water fountain and reassemble it.

15 – 20 points: You may just be living with a feline Einstein! Your cat is extremely intelligent and continually amazes you with new tricks. Your cat also knows how to get you to do things her way. You’re going to need to be pretty crafty yourself if you want to outsmart your cat!