The first reports of West Nile virus in the Western Hemisphere occurred
in New York City in 1999. Human, bird, horse and small mammal cases were
subsequently reported throughout the Middle Atlantic States and New England.
Since that time, the virus has spread south to Florida and west through
Missouri, infecting birds and mosquitoes in a natural cycle.
West Nile virus was discovered in St. Louis and St. Louis County through
bird testing during late September and early October of 2001. It recurred
within the state during the 2002 season and produced 169 human cases with
seven deaths. The St. Louis area was the focus of West Nile virus activity
with over 75 percent of the clinically verified cases in the state. A
total of 128 cases were recorded within five jurisdictions (St. Louis
City, 56: St. Louis County, 61: St. Charles County, 7: Jefferson County,
3: Franklin County, 1). If the CDC estimate of approximately 150 asymptomatic
infections for every clinical case is correct, we may have had as many
as 20,000 infections within the state last season. It is anticipated that
disease will appear in the area again during coming seasons.
In recognition of these facts, the regional task force formed in order
to coordinate the arboviral disease response activities of Franklin, Jefferson,
St. Charles and St. Louis counties and the City of St. Louis has been
expanded by the inclusion of various other governmental and academic entities.
This plan was originally completed through the combined efforts of Mark
Ritter (City of St. Louis), Ron Darling (St. Peters, Missouri), Barry
McCauley (St. Charles County) and Joan Bradford and Michael Williams (St.
Louis County). It was reviewed and revised in March of 2003 to reflect
the results of the 2002 West Nile introduction into the area. Guidelines
and written materials from the City of New York, the Federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health
and Senior Services were used in the preparation of this document.
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Below is the Table of Contents for the document.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Response Coordination
· West Nile Virus Response Team
Surveillance
· Mosquito Surveillance
· Bird and Mammal Surveillance
· Human Surveillance
Mosquito Control
· Prevention of Mosquito Breeding
· Adult Mosquito Control
Education
· Public Education
· Medical Provider Education
Appendix
· I - West Nile Virus Fact Sheet
· II - CDC Guidelines for phased response to West Nile Surveillance Data
· III - Contact Names and Phone Numbers
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