West Nile Virus Remains Active in NYC after 10 Years

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Media Advisory
Contact Scott Sieber, 718-670-1579
Cynthia Bacon, 718-670-2515

Dr. James Rahal, Leading West Nile Virus Expert, Available as Media Resource

WHO:     James Rahal, M.D., one of the nation’s active experts on the West Nile virus, notes that after 10 years, West Nile virus is still prevalent in New York City.

In Queens, mosquito pools testing positive for West Nile virus were recently identified in the following neighborhoods: College Point, Auburndale, Pomonok, Kew Gardens, Woodhaven, according to the NYC Department of Health. One pool was also discovered in the Bronx.

Dr. Rahal advises residents in these regions to pay close attention to mosquito bite precautions issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and NYC Department of Health.

Topping the list for West Nile virus prevention is the use of insect repellents to prevent mosquito bites. Mosquitoes transmit the virus to humans.

WHAT:   Opportunity to interview Dr. Rahal about his research on West Nile virus and preventative measures people can follow.

 (For full list of precautions or a list of disease cases, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/ or http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/wnv/wnvactivity.shtml

FYI: Nationally, there are 35 reported cases of human WNV so far this summer, including one in Monroe, New York, according to the CDC (as of 8/4/09). This year, there are no fatalities reported in New York State. The mosquito season lasts from July 1 through October 31. West Nile season usually peaks in late August.

Dr. James Rahal, Director of Infectious Disease at New York Hospital Queens, was one of the first physicians in the U.S. to identify the mosquito-borne disease pattern, which began infecting patients in Queens, New York, in 1999. Since then, he has been working on developing an effective treatment for patients who are affected with the disease. In August 2002, Dr. Rahal was authorized by the FDA to start a national treatment trial for patients with severe West Nile infection using a drug called alpha-interferon. The clinical trial is ongoing and physicians are encouraged to enroll infected patients in the study.  So far, there is no cure for West Nile virus.

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and is an affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

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