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CNN Live Saturday

Louisiana Copes with West Nile Outbreak

Aired August 03, 2002 - 17:02   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.
REDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to our top story, the West Nile Virus outbreak. The virus is blamed for killing four people in Louisiana and infecting at least 58. One state official says it's probably the largest outbreak of the disease ever in the US, or at least on the path to be. The governor of Louisiana has declared a state of emergency and calls for federal help in spraying to kill the mosquitoes that carry the virus.

CNN's Ed Lavendera is live in Baton Rouge with the very latest from there. Hi, there, Ed.

ED LAVENDERA, CNN COORESPONDENT: Hi, Fredrika. Well, most people -- you are correct -- here in Louisiana are starting to believe that this outbreak of West Nile virus that the state is experiencing here in the last couple of weeks will definitely become the worst outbreak this country has ever seen.

In New York in 1999, just a few over -- just a little bit over 60 people were infected with the virus. So far, here in Louisiana, already 58 and everyone points out here, is that we still have about another two or three months of the worst part of the mosquito season. So, the thinking here in Louisiana is that this will definitely become one of the worst outbreaks -- the worst outbreak -- of West Nile Virus this country has ever seen.

And to come back that with crews here in Baton Rouge, where we are, today is sending out crews that are spraying for mosquitoes trying to kill mosquito larvae that are growing in standing water throughout the city.

They're taking this spraying tactic all over the city. You've seen crews walking around, they're driving 4x4s around, and also driving around in trucks, spraying in the early morning hours and also in the evening so this is also a -- part of a larger mission here that's going on and that's why the governor of this state is requesting about $12 million to help fund more of this spraying.

The worry is that in the next -- in the coming months -- that the funds that are being used to pay for all of this spraying will dry up and they won't be able to continue doing so. Right now, the crews are working about 12 hour days, throughout the day, spraying all over the city. Not just here in Baton Rouge, but across the state. So, that continues, as well. But, they're also urging people to be careful about what's going on around their own individual homes. They're urging people to make sure that there's no standing water in tires or in plates around in your backyard because that is a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes that are able to carry this West Nile virus.

We mentioned 58 people infected here, four people have died because of that, and the state here initiating a public-wide campaign that's taking to the airwaves and to the newspapers. Let me give you a sample of what some people are able to listen to as they drive around in their cars here.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mosquitoes carrying strains of the encephalitis virus are true. Though the risk is low, if contracted by humans, its effects range from flu-like symptoms to paralysis and in extreme cases even death. Protect yourself by wearing repellant and covering exposed skin. Prevent mosquito breeding by eliminating standing water around your home. For more information, contact the Office of Public Health. Louisiana: Mosquitoes Can Kill. Let's join together...

(END AUDIO CLIP)

LAVENDERA: Now, that's something that a lot of people here in Louisiana will start hearing pretty soon in their cars. We went, this afternoon, to one of the neighborhoods where one of the victims that died recently, a 83-year-old woman, who had passed away in the neighborhood here in Baton Rouge. We went to that neighborhood just to kind of get a sense of how people are handling this situation and most everyone we talked to say they're not really changing their daily routine.

As you saw, a lot of people walking their dogs, mowing the lawn, and that sort of thing, and they say that although they're being cautious about what's going on, they're paying closer attention to it, that at this point they see no reason to really change their lifestyle too much.

UNIDENTIFIED LOUISIANA RESIDENT: If it wasn't in my neighborhood, it is so close to home, I probably would have read it in the paper and said well, it's not going to affect me. I'm sure we all do that sometimes. But since it is in our neighborhood, we've taken extra precautions.

UNIDENTIFIED LOUSIANA RESIDENT: Just a fact of life in Louisiana. There are mosquitoes, all summer and probably most of the winter, too.

LAVENDERA: Learn to deal with it?

FEMALE: We do.

LAVENDERA: And that's exactly what they've learned to do here in Louisiana. As we mentioned, mosquito season expected to last another two or three months here, so this is not the last that folks here in Louisiana have heard the last of the West Nile virus story. Fredrika, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much. Ed Lavendera from Baton Rouge this evening.

Well, there have been a number positive tests results for West Nile virus this year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. The virus has been documented in 32 states and the District of Columbia. The CDC says the West Nile virus interferes with the body's central nervous system, and causes inflammation in the brain.

Symptoms of the mild infection are the following: fever, headache, body aches, rash, and swollen lymph glands. Severe infection symptoms include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, and paralysis. And, you can find out more about the West Nile virus and efforts going on to fight it by going to our web site, cnn.com/health. AOL users use the keyword CNN.

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