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American Morning

Federal Health Experts Headed to Capitol Hill to Brief Lawmakers on Threat of West Nile Virus

Aired September 10, 2001 - 10:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Federal health experts are headed to Capitol Hill later today to brief lawmakers on the threat of West Nile Virus, and the latest news on this potentially fatal disease is not good news.

Our medical news correspondent Rea Blakey joins us, and she has more on what is becoming a growing threat.

Rea, good morning.

REA BLAKEY, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

The U.S. Geological Service will address Congress later on today, and it's very like to say that it's been a rather explosive years in regards to the number of West Nile cases have been reported. It's been moving very quickly.

Americans living in climates that are a little bit warmer will probably notice the newest component of this concern, and that is year-round biting mosquitoes, particularly in the Florida Keys, we are told. That is threatening that area, and experts say the virus is spreading farther and faster than previously anticipated.

Now so far, there are some 13 human cases that have been reported to the CDC, including one death.

Now, if you take a look at the this map, the West Nile virus has been confirmed in some 20 states extending along the eastern seaboard, and then south to the Florida Keys, and then moving along towards the Mississippi River and cities like Milwaukee and Chicago, then all the way south toward New Orleans. That represents nearly a third of the country. Last year at this time, West Nile affected only one-fifth of the U.S.

Now the confirmed human cases of West Nile have occurred in the elderly primarily, and people with compromised immune systems. But health expert are expected to tell members the Congress in that briefing later that people in the 40s have also been stricken with virus. Although in most cases, the virus results in sort of flu-like symptoms and not death.

HARRIS: Since there is a difference, or at least they thought that there was a difference between older folks who got bitten by mosquitoes carrying this virus and younger ones, what is the difference between the two -- Rea.

BLAKEY: That's really uncertain that the point, Leon.

Health officials are surprised that in fact this population in the 40s have been stricken. They anticipated that mainly it would people who are older, who have more compromised immune systems, people perhaps who have HIV. But they are surprised to find that people in their 40s who are apparently healthy have also been stricken. So they don't have an answer for that yet, they're just surprised by the observation.

HARRIS: All right. Good deal.

Rea Blakey, thank you very much.

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