Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
West Nile Virus to Worsen by Month's End
Aired August 21, 2002 - 10:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In health news now, there are reports of more deaths from West Nile virus.
CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us to talk about the disease and that it continues to spread.
And so we are talking about more than 11 now?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We're talking about 12, and the numbers have increased.
WHITFIELD: Twelve!
GUPTA: Just to put it in a little perspective -- we've shown the map some many times now -- take a look at it again. Basically, all these states -- you can see the line there really going from east to west. And experts that we have talked to say that they would not be surprised if you see red and blue really reach all the way to the West Coast over the next couple of seasons. This clearly is a virus that is here to stay in this country and is clearly infiltrating a lot of different states.
I will point out as well that the numbers do vary a bit. It was 160 last Friday -- up to 253 now. A lot of times states will actually have a probable death from West Nile -- they will have to confirm that with the CDC; therefore, there can be a bit of a lag time between the numbers. But they are hovering right around that right about now.
WHITFIELD: We are still talking about no real treatment for it. But there is an experimental stage we are in now, of a vaccine that is usually used for hepatitis C.
GUPTA: Yes, it is a medication. And the interesting thing now is the FDA has actually approved this medication to actually be trialed. And they have been searching for something for quite some time. But are you right, Fredricka: Basically, the medication called IntronA is sort of an immunity booster, if you will. It's not necessarily specific for West Nile virus, but what it does is it boosts your entire immune system so that you more readily fight off infections. People also use it for certain kinds of cancers, as well.
Interferon is a body's natural protection against infections and tumors. This medication would increase this.
WHITFIELD: So who are the best candidates?
GUPTA: The best candidates are still the people that are most likely to die from this. And we talked about that. Certainly, the elderly people who have weak immune systems might benefit from this medication. People with other diseases, like diabetes, heart disease, and things like that. Right now, trials are being provided for people 50 and older; they might include some younger people as well. They are going to enroll 40 patients. It may be some time before we know how well it works.
WHITFIELD: Are they looking for volunteers, or are they going about approaching who they believe that the folks should be in this test group?
GUPTA: This particular trial they are looking at infected people. This is taking place at Queens Hospital in New York. The participants will be chosen at random -- again, 50 years and older, although that does not mean that younger people are necessarily excluded.
WHITFIELD: There have been some projections that by the end of this summer, we are looking at least 100 people who would be terminally affected by this. Is that still the forecast that the CDC and others want to make and stand by?
GUPTA: The numbers have been growing sort of quicker than anybody thought, I think. While they are not surprised that it has actually reached this far in the country, 250 infections roughly means that 1,200, 1,300 people have been exposed. As far as how many people actually become ill, develop that really sick symptoms, such as encephalitis, that's hard to say. Right now, they says it's about 1 in 150 people will actually develop that. So that number still sits around in the 20s, 30s perhaps, but I do not think anyone will be surprised if they actually end up being higher.
WHITFIELD: And alarming too, because we are still in for a least another month or two of hot temperatures, of perfect mosquito-breeding grounds.
GUPTA: Last week of August, first week of September -- those are supposed to be the two worst weeks for this.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you.
GUPTA: Good to see you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
