“What we’re able to learn about this outbreak will assist public health professionals throughout the state and nation with effective prevention messaging in the future.”
Also, the proportion of mosquito traps testing positive for West Nile virus in Dallas County at the time were exceed- ingly high — 50 percent in some parts of the county, Dr. Carlo says. After weighing its options, CERC and
“Dr. Luby’s group indicated this was as substantial outbreak,” said Dr. Carlo, a member of the Texas Medical Asso- ciation Council on Science and Public Health and former medical director and health authority for Dallas County Health & Human Services. “The number of people testing positive for West Nile was high through July, fairly early in the West Nile season for Dallas.”
In fact, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported more cases of West Nile virus through July 31 than in any other year since West Nile came to Texas in 2002. By late Septem- ber, Texas reported 1,355 cases of the virus — the highest in the nation — to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention (CDC). (See “West Nile Virus Ac- tivity Through September 2012” below.)
ultimately the medical society recom- mended that local health officials begin aerial pesticide spraying. Soon after, Dal- las County Judge Clay Jenkins declared a state of emergency and requested aerial pesticide from the state. DSHS ap- proved the request, and aerial spraying began in August. Dallas County Health & Human Services Chief Epidemiologist Wendy Chung, MD, said in October that it was too early to determine the impact of aerial spraying in the county. The response to West Nile virus in Dallas County is just one example of the valuable influence county medical soci- eties and their committees can have in times of disease outbreaks, disasters, or emergencies, Dr. Carlo says. “When groups of physicians come to- gether in an organized fashion like this, they have the ability to articulate health concerns clearly and to inform the com- munity about what’s going on. These committees allow doctors to respond in ways that can benefit the health of the community,” he said. “Our recommen- dations helped reinforce the decisions made by the local health department and the health authority.” Dr. Chung appreciated the medical
society’s help during this public health crisis. Though she is a member of CERC, she had to recuse herself from voting on the aerial spraying recommendation due to her position as a health department employee.
“Effective communication between
West Nile virus activity through September 2012
United States Texas
Dallas County
No. of Cases No. of Deaths 3,545 1,355 341
147 52 17
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 36 TEXAS MEDICINE November 2012 David A. Marks, MD Umair Shah, MD
the health department and frontline physicians in the community is two-way.
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