Article October 7, 2002 Issue

How one person PRAYS about the West Nile virus

By Jenny Sawyer Sentinel Staff

These days, a simple Internet search on the word mosquito would put almost anyone on the alert. Verbs such as "control," "suppress," and "trap" dominate Web site descriptions and product advertising. "Kill mosquitoes before they kill you," one site cautions.

Forget biological warfare for a minute. This attack on America is coming from within its own borders, as the West Nile virus affects growing numbers of people throughout the US. Disease control experts predict that eventually the virus is likely to spread across the entire country, and they foresee more human cases before the end of the year.

But in spite of safety precautions and control tactics, public vigilance and federal funding, the West Nile virus looks unstoppable. In August, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "so far this year; the so-called West Nile virus has spread farther and caused more fatalities than anthrax" ("Virus deaths spur mosquito-control efforts," August 19, 2002, by Laurent Belsie). According to news sources, relatively few mosquitoes actually pose a threat. But fear lingers in the mind of the public.

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