Fight the Bite

By: Tiffany Bartley &Danny Colapietro

What is the West Nile Virus?

• The West Nile Virus is a disease that affects the nervous system.

• It was first detected in the western hemisphere in 1999 and since then 46 states have been affected and over 9,800 people have been diagnosed.

• West Nile is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites but is not contagious.

Where does it come from?

• “In 1937 the disease was first found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East”(U.S Department of Interior).

• The disease is spread by different types of species of mosquitoes, birds, and even in one case a horse.

The Mosquito

• This common flying insect can be found throughout the world. There are many different kinds of mosquitoes.

• Females drink blood and the nectar of plants while the males only drink the nectar.

• When bitten by a female mosquito, she injects a anti-clotting chemical into her prey. She finds her victims by sight, smell, and heat. But not all types bite humans.

Body of Mosquito

Mosquitos -- EnchantedLearning.com

Symptoms

• Most people who are infected by the virus experience no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms.

• People who are at high risk are elderly and those with lowered immune systems.

• The symptoms appear within 2-14 days after the bite of the mosquito.

More Symptoms

Head and body aches

Skin rash

High fever

Neck stiffness

tremors

Muscle weakness

comaLess than 1% develop meningitis or encephalitis

Paralysis

How are the symptoms treated?

• “There is no specific treatment for the virus or vaccine to prevent it. But to treat the symptoms they use these treatments”{http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/backround.html}.

Severe sickness could result in being hospitalized

Drinking lots of fluidsRespiratory support

Prevention of infection

Good nursing care

To Reduce the Risk• Avoid being outdoors while mosquitoes

are out.

• Make sure doors and windows have tight fitting screens.

• Wear socks, shoes, long pants, and long sleeve shirts while outdoors.

• Avoid wetlands where mosquitoes thrive.

• Use insect repellant while outdoors.

Pinning the Blame

According to Corbin-Mark, the spread of mosquito borne illness, West Nile Virus, and the northern migration of insects borne tropical diseases are caused by increased global warming.

“Because our global climate is getting hotter and our communities are getting hotter, there is not opportunity for things to die off the way they normally do in nature,” Corbin-Mark.

In the play, The Crucible, the cause of everyone’s problems seems to lead to one person, one mosquito. Abigail is causing riots and chaos by accusing all the innocent people around her. People, such as Mary Warren, don’t dare to disagree with her because she knows the consequences. No one wants to be near Abigail because she is the infected one. She is the one that has all the power to either bite you or let you go free.

Abagail is the mosquito. When she strikes, she injects her victim with dishonesty and fear. The girls that follow Abigail have been infected with these simple traits that keep this virus thriving at its highest peak.

Abagail Witch or Mosquito?

At a lake in Colorado last summer, 47-year-old Pleasanton water skier Richelle Matli was in such good shape that she knew she had a shot at the national championships, only two weeks away in Texas. She was bitten by a mosquito and then it all went downhill from there.

Instead of taking a trip to Houston, she had to be hospitialized for a mysterious virus.She was diagnosed for the West Nile Virus. Matli appeared to have come down with a rare form of the disease which they now call acute flaccid paralysis, or West Nile poliomyelitis. This type of virus tends to affect healthy people.

“West Nile virus affected 3,000 residents and killed 67. Nationwide, the outbreak killed 264”

(Russell).

"I went into the hospital under my own power and

came out in a wheelchair, '' said Matli.She returned to

work in April and, remarkably, has returned to the water as well. Now 48, she skied in a tournament on July 22 for the first time since her illness, drawing

cheers from fans on shore as she left the dock.

Died in jailSarah Osborne "Dr." Roger Toothaker Ann Foster Lydia Dustin Jonathan Anthony Panichella

ExecutedGiles Corey was pressed to his death.Bridget Bishop — hanged June 2, 1692 The Rev. George Burroughs — hanged August 19, 1692 Martha Carrier — hanged August 19, 1692 Martha Corey — hanged September 22, 1692 Giles Corey — pressed to death September 19, 1692 Mary Easty — hanged September 22, 1692 Sarah Good — hanged June 19, 1692 Elizabeth Howe — hanged June 19, 1692 George Jacobs, Sr. — hanged August 19, 1692 Susannah Martin — hanged June 19, 1692 Rebecca Nurse — hanged June 19, 1692 Alice Parker — hanged September 22, 1692 Mary Parker — hanged September 22, 1692 John Proctor — hanged August 19, 1692 Ann Pudeator — hanged September 22, 1692 Wilmott Redd — hanged September 22, 1692 Margaret Scott — hanged September 22, 1692 Samuel Wardwell — hanged September 22, 1692 Sarah Wildes — hanged June 19, 1692 John Willard

VS. The Salem Witch Trials

Before

When the West Nile Virus was first detected, people didn’t know what to do. They feared what would

happen to them and how to prevent the virus from

spreading

After

and

In the Crucible, the characters all feared what was happening to their quiet little town. Any person mentioned would immediately be either condemned or they would be able to find a way out by pushing out the blame.

After the scare was under control they took precautions and became more aware of their surroundings.

John Proctor and a few innocent others died as a result of this fear taking over the town. They died because no one was willing to take a stand up against Abagail and fight.

Works CitedCDC. "Questions and Answers." West Nile Virus. 16 Aug. 2004. 31 Oct.

2005 <http://www.cdc.gov/nicdod/dvbid/westnile/qa/symptoms.htm>. "West Nile Virus

"Mosquito." 31 Oct. 2005

<http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/mosquito>. Maps." U.S

Geogical Survey. 03 May 2005. 31 Oct. 2005

<http://westnilemaps.usgs.gov/backround.html>.

Russel, Sabin. "Rare form of West Nile worries California athlete." SFGate.com. 25 Aug. 2004. 5 Nov. 2005

<http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/08/25/MNGG18DVGL1.DTL>