BURLINGTON, Vt. -
The west nile virus is taking the nation by storm. As of Tuesday, 47 states reported having infected people, mosquitos or birds. So far, Vermont doesn't have any human cases, but all three states that surround us do.
Those bothersome blood-suckers that once just put a damper on our summer nights - and gave us an itchy arm or leg - now have the ability - more than ever - to be fatal. 41 deaths have been reported so far nationally this year.
"The virus essentially invades the central nervous system," Epidemiologist for the Department of Health, Erica Berl said.
It's not fatal for everyone though, it's people over 50 who are the most at risk.
"Roughly 20 percent will go on to develop more flu like symptoms," Berl said.
Almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas - and although it's rare, mosquitos can travel several miles.
"I don't overly worry about it as long as I'm taking the right precautions," Dan Burns said.
"Mosquito repellant's are very effective," Berl added.
The Vermont Department of Health says ever since it started testing mosquitos for west nile in 2000, the virus has been detected.
"We know that there's west nile virus circulating around," Berl said.
It's actually birds who carry the virus, and then mosquitos who feed on infected birds, feed on us, but the department has stopped testing dead birds and it's not necessarily because it's not a big problem in this area, it's because the federal government cut the funding.
"So we don't know for sure what's circulating among birds this year," Berl said.
And while not every mosquito carries the west nile virus, it's smart to keep swatting those skeeters away.
An elderly woman from Long Island, New York died from the virus today, she's the state's first reported death this year. The Agency of Agriculture is currently conducting a study on mosquitoes in the area. Mosquito season will be over when we get a good hard frost.
