West Nile hits nation hard
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PORTLAND, Ore. - The United States is in the middle of the biggest West Nile outbreak since 2004, and while Oregon and Washington don’t have any human cases so far, that could change.
Hundreds of people nationwide are sick and 26 people have already died because of it.
Experts say the West Nile threat in Oregon and Washington this season is real even though no one's gotten sick yet.
"This is the worst year for West Nile virus we've ever seen," said ABC's Dr. Richard Besser.
Besser says now is the time to check for mosquito breeding sites around your home.
"Get rid of any free-standing water, water in tires, water that's just sitting in puddles. In Oregon that's something I'm sure you have to pay a lot of attention to," he said.
You can protect yourself from mosquitoes by emptying things like pet dishes at least once a week and even checking for standing water in pool covers or maybe in a dish you left underneath your shrubs.
Because West Nile has already spread in southern states, migratory birds will bring the virus up through Oregon and Washington, passing it on to local mosquitoes. Those mosquitoes can pass the virus on to humans.
Multnomah County last year spread traps to capture especially aggressive West-Nile-carrying insects known as "Rock Pool" mosquitoes.
Most people who get the disease never know it. About 20 percent feel like they got the flu and recover. But for a small group of people West Nile causes brain swelling and paralysis.
"And those symptoms, if you have them, may last for a long time," Besser said. "Many people, 60 percent, have those after five years. That's why prevention's so important because there is no treatment for this disease."
The West Nile virus has already shown up within the past month in mosquitoes in Jackson and Malheur counties in Oregon, and in Franklin and Yakima counties in Washington.
26 dead people consist of the "biggest outbreak"?? Are you freaking kidding me? The whole story here doesn't make sense. There has to be more to this.
I've lived here for five years and I've never had a mosquito bite. Â I haven't even ever SEEN one. Â I grew up in Michigan where we had what we called a "Mosquito season" where if you went outdoors after dark you'd come back in with at least ten bites. Â
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Seriously overplayed.
 @IxyaviÂ
No I bet you've seen them, you may even have been bitten by them.
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But you're from the Midwest, you're used to much bigger ones.
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Ever been outside just as the sun set and all those "tiny" flies start buzzing around you? Yeah some of those (many or even most) are mosquitoes.
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We don't grow them Midwest sized here, so you may not have recognized them.
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LOL
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 @Ixyavi Lucky you for never seeing them. They get into my apartment all the time, but my cat eats them..
I should hope folks change the pet water dish more then once a week.. in this heat daily MO.. However, pools and water fountains you can use Skeeter dunks (non toxic to fish,wildlife and pets) and mosq. Fish..  Skeeter spray the pets also!
This is the hottest year we've ever seen - and the worst year for West Nile that we've ever seen.Â
There are two record highs for every new record low - and still there are those who would rather politicize the issue than admit the whole world climate is heating dramatically and dangerously.
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 @Bikerider  @alohan It's the hottest year on record for the US.
The article is about the nationwide West Nile outbreak.
@alohan @Bikerider Alohan, when you discuss 'global' issues here it is like talking to a wall. Most of the 'regulars' do not know that there is a world outside of Oregon/Washington.  They really don't. It's kinda weird.