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<br />Biological Hazards: Insects (Grasshoppers & Mosquitoes) <br />The impact that wildlife, and more notably, insects can have upon the planning area is <br />substantial. The financial impacts are detailed in the county-by-county assessments, and <br />included within the Crop Insurance Loss reports, which are on file with each county <br />Emergency Manager. The fact that there have been two state disaster declarations to <br />combat the impact of grasshopper plagues upon the agricultural community is testimony <br />in itself. <br /> <br />The current natural hazard within the Planning Area created by insects is West Nile <br />Virus. A potentially deadly disease to livestock and humans alike, the virus is transmitted <br />by mosquitoes. West Nile first struck the northern hemisphere in Queens, N.Y., four <br />years ago and killed four people. In 2003, all 50 states are warning of an outbreak from <br />any of the 30 mosquito species known to carry it. From 62 severe cases in 1999, <br />confirmed human cases of the virus spread to 39 states in 2002, and it killed 284 people. <br />By January of 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported (CDC), the <br />virus has shown up in 23 states. In June, Michael L. Bunning, an epidemiologist at the <br />National Center for Infectious Diseases in Fort Collins, who tracks the outbreak in birds <br />and animals, said, "I would say that these early season reports of West Nile are <br />distressing. We're seeing the same level of activity as last year, which is not a good sign. <br />We haven't seen any sign that things are on a downward cycle." He added, "It's just a <br />matter oftime before we have the first human case." (CNN quote). <br /> <br /> <br />i . <br />I <br /> <br />Confirmed Cases of WNV in Humans 08/06/03 and 10/02/03 <br />Source: CDC/USGS and CDPHE <br /> <br />As of October 2,2003,2,134 confirmed cases of West Nile Virus in humans and 44 <br />deaths have been reported to the CDC for Colorado alone, including 524 human cases <br />and four deaths within the Northeast Colorado Planning Area. <br /> <br />There are several strategies being utilized in combating West Nile virus; spraying areas <br />where mosquitoes breed, inoculating horses and livestock in areas where the virus has <br />been confirmed, general public education, and wearing clothing that minimizes exposure <br />of the skin. <br /> <br />42 <br />