- FLORIDA - The fatal, mosquito-borne
West Nile Virus has struck again in Central Florida.
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- The state had escaped the virus until last year when
several cases were detected.
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- This year, health officials are reporting the virus could
be much worse than last because of a "heavy load" of the virus
in the state and their inexperience with the disease.
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- "It's kind of surprising," says Pete Thornton,
environmental administrator with the Volusia County Health Department,
where the virus has already been detected this year. "Despite the
fact it's been a fairly warm winter, the mosquito levels are down. In January
we wouldn't expect a positive [result]."
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- Because of the disease's early arrival, health officials
are urging counties to attack mosquito larvae, horse owners to ensure their
animals are vaccinated and property owners to clear their areas of potential
mosquito breeding grounds.
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- http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=10895
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