Originally published September 26 2005
Maine researchers trap mosquitoes to track West Nile virus
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Using a device comprised of a Thermos of dry ice and a low-speed fan, Maine Medical Center researchers are capturing mosquitoes in hopes that they will be able to find some carrying the potentially deadly West Nile virus, and monitor the activity of the virus, the Portland Press Herald reports.
"The blades don't move that fast," said field biologist Chuck Lubelczyk as he untied the trap from a chest-high tree branch in the woods off Portland's Canco Road.
Any one of the bugs trapped in 40 sites throughout southern Maine could very well be carrying the potentially dangerous West Nile disease.
But the only way for Lubelczyk and other researchers at Maine Medical Center's Vector-borne Disease Laboratory to identify and test the insects is if their hairs and scales are intact.
It is a time-consuming and eye-straining job, but the work lets the state monitor the virus' activity.
Four mosquito-bitten birds found in York County have tested positive for West Nile virus this summer, compared with the one bird last year at this time.
It is possible that someone in Maine may unknowingly have had West Nile and recovered from it.
But the feeling among public health officials is that it is only a matter of time before someone has symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed with the virus.
"Mainers cannot disregard the potential disease threat posed by mosquitoes," said state epidemiologist Dr. Kathleen Gensheimer.
"Triple E raised awareness, and made the state want to get more surveillance done," said Lubelczyk, who in the past evenly split his time between studying mosquitoes and ticks, which are responsible for about 200 new human cases of Lyme disease each year.
After collecting the bugs from the traps, the Maine Med researchers bring them back to their laboratory, tucked away in a business park by the Maine Mall in South Portland.
Culex pipiens is the species that most commonly carries West Nile virus.
Their work will continue until the mosquitos die off in September or October, depending on how early the weather turns chilly.
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