West Nile... Fake or Real

[winterdream28]

So... I have all these people tagging me on Facebook about a West Nile scare going on and that anyone who attended burning man should consider being tested.... does anyone have more news on this. I have found a few articles online but not from large news sources.

PS: Sorry i was not sure where to post this question.

[Simon of the Playa]

you have a better chance of being struck by lightning...


seriously...


much ado about nothing, and a lot of Hooey...

[winterdream28]

you have a better chance of being struck by lightning...


seriously...


much ado about nothing, and a lot of Hooey...

you made me smile... okay delete my freak out thread!

[VultureChow]

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/09/0 ... /15042263/

It is a mosquito borne illness and, as far as I know, not readily transmittable between people. We've been dealing with it on the East Coast for some years now. Though there were more flies and spiders on playa this year than I have seen in the past, I did not see any mosquitoes.

If you spent a significant amount of time in Gerlach or by the hot springs, you'd have a better shot at getting it.

[Eric]

I've moved this to Open Discussion

[maryanimal]

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Bu ... 70861.html

[Cassidy9]

Wow. Way to keep people scared, mainstream media. Check the CDC website for REAL info about it. Info such as: it's transmitted by mosquitoes; CERTAIN species only. Good grief. Please let me know if you hear of ONE person who was bit by a mosquito on the playa. If you camped somewhere near water either before or after, perhaps there is a hugely remote chance you might have been bitten by the one species of mosquito that happened to be carrying the virus from neighboring states... Not fake, but, really, nothing to fret about. Except bad reporting.

Please note: this an educated post, not a guess or opinion.

Ok, maybe some opinion creeped in there.

[otakup0pe]

you have a better chance of being struck by lightning...


seriously...


much ado about nothing, and a lot of Hooey...

too soon

[chuckularone]

I saw 7 insects while at burning man. None of them were mosquitoes. Mosquitoes require water to breed.

[theCryptofishist]

BUt, but it rained...

[Thecatman]

What maryanimal said. That's where I learned of it last night.
I would think you were pretty safe on the playa. If you spent some time in Gerlach where the buggers were found and got bit......

[Simon of the Playa]

you have a better chance of being struck by lightning...


seriously...


much ado about nothing, and a lot of Hooey...

too soon

i'm so glad SOMEONE caught that....

[BBadger]

They must've come from all the old half-water-filled car tires I brought to the burn to gift to people.

[Lonesomebri]

Yes !!!!! Finally some good news. If you attend Burning Man YOU WILL DIE !!! Do not go. Tell your friends. All the EDM, private porta-potties, segways, feathers, catered meals, security drones, and Krug in the world will not save you. God bless the lowly mosquito.

[Canoe]

We've been living with it around here for some years.
It's in the areas where there are a lot of mosquitoes that we get people contacting West Nile. Like friends of mine, a family of four living in a forest near water some ways outside of town; they all had the general malaise, and one had mild fevers. Here in town, it is regarded as enough of an issue that this summer they're spraying the storm sewers around town, to reduce the numbers of the mosquitoes that are the vector for transfer to humans.

Very few people get it, even when bitten by mosquitoes in a high West Nile area.
Most people who get it will only experience somewhat of a malaise, usually recovering within a week or two.
A much smaller percentage will feel sick for a week or two, possibly with mild fever(s), some aches and pains.
A very small percentage of those contacting West Nile are at risk. Usually, but not always, it's those whose body is already weakened by other medical conditions.

I'd like to know what they mean by "near Gerlach".

What it means is, if you get sick in the next few weeks, your Doctor should be advised to consider West Nile, as you were camping near a town where West Nile infected mosquitoes were recently trapped, and the wind may have blown one to where you were, and you may have been bitten but not noticed. So 2014 Burners are not likely to die, not even the PNP camps, nor the idiots on a certain DJ MV (perhaps we should start a petition to give them VIP Camp-by-the-Spring passes for next year).

[Lonesomebri]

So 2014 Burners are not likely to die, not even the PNP camps, nor the idiots on a certain DJ MV (perhaps we should start a petition to give them VIP Camp-by-the-Spring passes for next year).

...way to harshen my burn, brother....
Though this does give me an idea for a dual use grey water pool/swamp.

[Joeln]

I was very surprised when I saw a single mosquito inside my tent.
Also saw a small number of other bugs.

[AntiM]

I thought the whooping cough scare would be in full swing by now. More likely, after all.

[tatonka]

Had one fly in my canopy and I got him out and he was on the screen begging to come back in before he fell Also found 2 bee's dead in my evap pond.

[Drawingablank]

We did have one young lady get bitten by a mosquito in camp on labor day, but since she is in her early 20's I hardly think she is at risk from West Nile even if the bug was a carrier.

The same day a camp mate was stung by a scorpion - a much more likely occurrence on the playa.

[Lonesomebri]

The West Nile virus, bees, scorpions......where is Media Mecca? Too busy promoting pictures of topless headdress wearing hotties? How about doing the community a service -ha- and letting the outside world know of the hidden horrors?

[Canoe]

We did have one young lady get bitten by a mosquito in camp on labor day, but since she is in her early 20's I hardly think she is at risk from West Nile even if the bug was a carrier...

For most strains of West Nile, no consequence or a mild consequence would be expected. For some strains, with some obviously healthy & strong people, there are some who suffer the more extreme consequences. I don't recall seeing an explanation, or if there even is one.

Anyone get a photo of the type of scorpion?

[Roberto Dobbisano]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/0 ... 69252.html

[Canoe]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/0 ... 69252.html

Except, some mosquitoes were encountered at BRC. As it is unlikely that they bred there (wet playa, wet pools collected in objects, Ph, mosquitoes for eggs, hatching time, etc.), and although they could have hitched a ride in a vehicle, the most likely source of the mosquitoes observed at BRC is the usual source of insects on the playa: blown in. The area "near Gerlach" or "in Gerlach" would be a credible source.

Still little chance of encountering a vector, let alone an infected vector, and little chance of infection if you do, and although it is true that the chance of the playa being "infected" is zero, it is obviously possible for mosquitoes to blow in.

[Lonesomebri]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/0 ... 69252.html

Still little chance of encountering a vector, let alone an infected vector, and little chance of infection if you do, and although it is true that the chance of the playa being "infected" is zero, it is obviously possible for mosquitoes to blow in.

But...but....the scorpions still sting, right? There's still that.

[Canoe]

But...but....the scorpions still sting, right? There's still that.

You are most correct.
And, the snakes, dragons, hippies and shirt-cockers.
It is unsafe to go to Burning Man.
Stay home. Leave the tickets for me.

[H.G.Crosby]

i think i got ebola by accidently licking something in gigsville.

[Canoe]

i think i got ebola by accidently licking something in gigsville.

I suspect that you are mistaken. That must have been: i think i got ebola by accidently licking something someone in gigsville.

Although, from a scientific study on ebola - not according to the news - it was observed that some men who survive and recover from ebola can infect others through their semen/sperm (I don't remember if there was a distinction) for up to seven weeks after they appear to recover.

[stew]

So they found a few mosquitos in Gerlach...that's scary, right? Unless you put it in context: this week alone, they found 181 mosquitos carrying it in California. Odds are, that that week at Burning Man, you were safer from West Nile than the rest of your year.

[Freedyjay]

I would normally not be worried at all, but I've been completely exhausted since I got back. Yes, I realize exhaustion is normal after you've been staying up super late (or later) for a week straight, but I can't recall ever being this fatigued after other years a week after leaving the playa. The first nights I slept 10 hours plus (as expected) and now just tired a lot of the time. Very much doubt it's West Nile as no fever, but we did spend some time in Gerlach and there were mosquitos in the car at other points during the trip, so may have to go to the doctor if this keeps up...