Hugh MartinIT IS often said that if the United States of America sneezes, Jamaica catches a cold. This speaks to the considerable influence our big neighbour to the north has on us in almost every area of our lives. No more is this seen than in our cultural expressions which include speech, music, fashion and food. With one notable exception - Sports. We have steadfastly refused to adopt the game they call football where that oddly shaped 'ball' is mostly carried in the hand and hardly ever makes contact with the foot.
But that undeniable influence is probably the reason for the Jamaican Ministries of Health and Agriculture's current alert for the West Nile Virus which has been responsible for the death of numerous persons in New York and other parts of that country. This alert has been in effect but quietly, since the virus was first discovered in New York City in 1999. The public was brought into the picture only a couple of weeks ago with a news release from the Agriculture Ministry. In effect they are asking the public, particularly agricultural field workers, farmers and veterinarians to look out for unusual numbers of dead birds which could signify the presence of the virus.
So what is this West Nile Virus? It has been described as a disease of birds that also sometimes affects horses and humans where it manifests itself as a flu-like illness. It acts quickly on birds killing them in a few days, but sometimes infected birds recover and develop immunity. However they remain carriers. The virus is transmitted to horses and humans by mosquitoes that feed on birds with the virus in their blood.
Some time in 1999 in New York a few persons developed this flu-like illness and subsequently died. It was soon identified as the West Nile Virus, so named because of its origin some 60 years ago in Africa from which it spread to West and Central Asia and the Middle East. Up to its discovery in New York in 1999 it was unknown in the Western Hemisphere. Since then it has spread throughout the eastern part of the United States and has resulted in the death of some 250 persons.
There is no indication that the disease is in Jamaica as yet but the authorities believe that it is only a matter of time before it appears, given the nature of its spread. It has been ascertained that several species of birds in the US that are affected are migratory and that some of these migrate to South America and the Caribbean, including Jamaica, for the duration of the winter season. It is expected, not unreasonably, that some of these migrant birds would be carriers of the virus. Since there is always an abundance of mosquitoes in Jamaica a very great probability exists that contact will be made between the two sooner or later. The chances of those mosquitoes biting a person or a horse are also quite good thus setting the stage for an outbreak of West Nile Virus.
Dr. Cedric Lazarus, Senior Veterinary Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, in speaking about the effects of the virus, said it resulted in a severe illness known as West Nile encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain marked by headaches, high fever, disorientation, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. The severe forms are found more often among persons of 50 years or older as their immune systems tend to be lower. There is no cure for the virus and the only recourse after contracting it is for supportive medical care to prevent secondary infections. The one consoling word in respect of the disease is that the mortality rate in the US has not been very high.
Notwithstanding all that we are not totally at the mercy of the virus should it come. Since we cannot cure the infection the aim is to prevent it from happening. Eliminating the vector - the mosquito - can do this. And that is part of the alert by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture. Apart from looking out for unusual numbers of dead birds and making a report to the Public Health and Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary offices, members of the public are also being asked to get rid of all breeding areas for mosquitoes. This would include old tyres, discarded containers and sunken areas where water can settle for long periods. The Ministry of Health will be assisting in that operation by its mosquito eradication programme but it requires the co-operation of everyone to make it a national effort. Let's give it.
Hugh Martin is a communications specialist and farm broadcaster. E-mail: humar@cwjamaica.com
