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CNN Live At Daybreak

West Nile Virus Strikes New York Woman

Aired August 13, 2001 - 07:23   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We have been telling you about a senior citizen -- an elderly woman up in the New York area, who has now been diagnosed with the West Nile virus, and that virus is on the move. In fact, her case is the first identified in this country since 1999, and since then, mosquitoes have spread to 14 states -- most of them in the East.

So this morning, we are being joined by Dr. James Miller. He coordinates the West Nile virus program up in New York.

Good morning, Dr. Miller.

DR. JAMES MILLER, WEST NILE VIRUS COORDINATOR: Good morning, Carol.

Let me start by adding that we were the third person. The first two cases in 2001 were in Florida.

LIN: Oh, good. Thanks for bringing us up to date.

So in her particular case, how is she doing?

MILLER: Well, the last we heard from the hospital, she was doing well. She had moved from the acute care floor into a rehab floor. So we'll keep our fingers crossed for her.

LIN: Right. And some of the symptoms I have been reading about -- for example, muscles so weak that some of these people need help breathing.

What is her status exactly?

MILLER: Well, again, this was a typical case in that regard in that the symptom at home was -- became sort of -- it was difficulty with walking. As you lose your muscle function and muscle control, that's the way it could come on.

We had another case in 2000, where the son brought the elderly mother to live with him, because she was having a hard time going upstairs. Loss of muscle function is, you know, it's a serious change.

LIN: Now, what are her chances of surviving then? MILLER: Well, I think at this point, given that she is moving from the acute care part of the hospital that it's probably good. I mean, every case is going to be different. Again, she's not completely out of the hospital yet, but we'll keep our fingers crossed.

LIN: Well, as you mentioned, a handful of cases really reported since 1999. Was there a break between '99 and 2001? And if so, what happened exactly? Was it dormant -- the virus itself?

MILLER: Carol, what happened is that in New York -- the greater New York area, we had 59 cases in 1999. New York and New Jersey had 20 cases in 2000, and what's, of course, been the big news for us this year is the fact that it has spread so far south. People have become ill in Florida, but there have also been at least 15 horses that were infected in Florida.

So -- and then Ohio has reported its first bird infection. So having been first introduced into North America in 1999, the movement both south and west is really what we are keeping our eye on.

LIN: Well, we know it's spread by mosquitoes at this point. So what is being done to stop the spread in the New York area?

MILLER: Carol, the most important thing is what people do in their own yards, and what the city is doing in its yard, which for the most part are parks and streets. Mosquitoes all start their life in water. And dealing with water -- eliminating it if it's just an abandoned swimming pool or an old bucket that's in somebody's backyard -- is the most important thing that can be done in New York and anywhere in the country.

After that, the place -- the focus is really where you are likely to be bitten. If you are out at night, when mosquitoes are most active, wearing long sleeves, wearing insect repellent -- those are the types of things that will reduce your risk, as well as if you deal with mosquito breeding, reduce the risk for everyone.

We ask people that if they know about mosquito breeding on property that they don't have control over that they let us know, and we'll send people out and actually try to either eliminate the water or use a larvicide to kill the mosquitoes as they are developing in water.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Dr. James Miller. I know you have got a problem there on your hands, and spraying will start tonight in the New York area.

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