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43 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, October 10, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 21, 2004 West Nile could spread to humans in valley by spring By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune Southern Oregon may skate through 2004 without a human case of West Nile virus, but the disease almost certainly will surface in humans next spring when mosquitoes start looking for blood. That’s the word from Hank Collins, Jackson County’s director of Health and Human Services, as the virus continues to spread among birds and horses in Jackson and Josephine counties. "What we’re seeing here has happened in other states," Collins said Monday, noting that human cases typically surface after birds and horses get infected. "First the birds die and a horse or two gets sick," he said. "Early the next spring the mosquito population explodes, and lots of people start getting sick." Most people who are infected with the virus never have enough symptoms to know they have it. Fewer than 1 percent of the people who are infected become seriously ill. Advertisement The virus does not infect every mosquito. During this year’s outbreak in Arizona, only about 15 percent of mosquitoes that were collected for testing carried the virus. Dead birds with the virus in their blood have been found in Medford, Gold Hill, Rogue River, Eagle Point and Jacksonville since the first dead bird was found Aug. 20 on Rogue River Highway near the Jackson-Josephine county line. Collins said the mosquitoes that spread the virus become less active in fall as temperatures drop. Many survive the winter, however and start feeding again as part of their reproductive cycle. Mosquito activity could increase if warm, dry weather returns. Forecasters were expecting temperatures to return to the upper 80s by the end of the week. Last year, human cases surfaced in Colorado as late as October. The virus had been identified in six Oregon counties as of Friday, Sept. 17, but only one human case, in Malheur County, had been confirmed. Of the 43 bird and horse cases that have been identified, 23 occurred in Malheur County and 11 in Jackson County. There have also been equine cases found in Grant County, in eastern Oregon, and Linn County, in the Willamette Valley. On the Web: www.ohd.hr.state.or.us Type "west nile" into the search window. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities