Virus

julieg@herald-mail.com The Washington County Health Department is taking an aggressive approach to fighting West Nile virus, which appears to be moving west through the county, a health official said Tuesday. With frost expected to arrive soon, health officials plan to hold off on spraying until the next mosquito season starts next spring, Environmental Health Director Laurie Bucher told the Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday. The hope is that the frost will eliminate the mosquito population this fall, she said.

As you might be aware, no journalist is more dedicated to covering the growing obesity crisis than I am, seeing as how I consider it to be a "hometown Hagerstown" issue, much the way journalists in Cocoa Beach cover Cape Canaveral. The government, which defines "obese" as anyone whose ribs cannot be played like a xylophone and is basically one carrot stick away from abject starvation, is a willing accomplice in my quest for information, since every other day it is coming out with a new report under the scientific category of "You people are pigs!"

The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Virginia HBPA are sponsoring a seminar Monday at Tailgaters Restaurant near Charles Town. "The presentation will be 'The Herpes Virus - understanding and preventing it,'" said Charles Town HBPA spokesperson Patti Evans. "Dr. Reid McLellan from the national HBPA will make a presentation and Dr. Keith Berkeley from the Valley Equine Clinic will add views on 'Preventive Vaccinations.'" The Herpes Virus has been in the news this year - affecting thoroughbreds throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- In 2005 and 2006, Franklin County held the dubious honor of having more mosquito samples test positive for West Nile virus than any other county in Pennsylvania. It was a state leader for positive samples in other years. That changed in 2010. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection had no reports of West Nile virus-positive mosquitos in Franklin County. Its data shows 265 samples were tested. The county posted 68 positive samples in 2005, 65 in 2006, seven in 2007 and 34 in 2008.

Franklin County, Pa., experienced a high rate of West Nile virus this year, mirroring state and national trends. “We had unprecedented numbers,” said Raymond Eckhart, county coordinator. With 69 total positives in mosquito samples, a dead bird and one human case, Franklin County is 18th highest among Pennsylvania's 67 counties for 2012. Eckhart said scientists are still speculating why instances of West Nile virus were high this year. He said the mild winter in 2011-12 might have affected the habits of birds.

Living in the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine a life without computers. We use them to talk to friends, catch up on the news, listen to music, watch movies and so much more. Computers make our lives easy, but they have to be properly maintained. Like humans, computers get infected - though not in the biological sense. My friend Sandra Maina experienced a computer virus. "On my computer all the programs were deleted and my computer crashed," she said. "I needed my mom's assistance to help me reinstall all the programs.

"Zip your coat. Put that hat on your head. You're gonna catch a cold. " Rare is the mother who hasn't uttered these words during the rush out the door. Shirlee Imes, 55, of Hagerstown, certainly has. She is the mother of 11. If she doesn't stand guard at the door, Imes said, one of her children inevitably tries to sneak out in just a sweatshirt. Excuses abound. "It's not cool to wear a heavy coat. " "They don't give us enough locker space to put our coat and backpack in. " "I'll miss my bus if I have to go back to my locker to get my coat.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com A Berkeley County resident has the first confirmed case of West Nile virus in the state, but health officials said there is no need to panic. "It is not contagious person-to-person. You have to be bitten by the mosquito," said Sandra LeMaster, nurse director for clinical services at the Berkeley County Health Department. Citing privacy concerns, LeMaster would not give the person's name, age or gender. She said she was not sure of the prognosis or whether the person is in a hospital, because she had not spoken to the person's doctor Friday.

katec@herald-mail.com It's that time again. The fall season officially began last week. The flu season will be coming on its heels. It can begin as early as October and last as late as May, according to information on the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov. Normally, flu activity begins between December and February. Last year, outbreaks in Texas were reported in early to mid-October. And last year's flu season was more severe than the previous four seasons.

To report dead birds Public health officials are encouraging Tri-State residents to report any dead birds, especially crows, they find. Crows are highly susceptible to the West Nile virus. Do not handle the dead birds without gloves. Not every dead crow is worth testing. West Nile virus can only be isolated from relatively fresh carcasses, dead 24 hours or less. In Pennsylvania, call the state Department of Health at 1-877-724-3258. In Maryland, call the state's Nile Virus hotline at 1-888-584-3110.