State abd local health departments conflict over recent West Nile Virus reports
From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Lobbyist Money Help  

State abd local health departments conflict over recent West Nile Virus reports

Date: September 22, 2015
By: Melissa Zygowicz
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
State and local health departments don't agree on whether recent West Nile Virus cases are out the ordinary or show an increase in cases of the disease.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis Bureu Chief for Environmental Health Services Jeanine Arrighi says that the number of people diagnosed with West Nile Virus cases is up when compared to previous years.

She says there have been 3 reported cases in St. Louis.

Actuality:  ARRIGHT.WAV
Run Time:  00:18
Description: "That is certaintly more than we've had in past years and we suspect it's because we've had a particularly wet summer and so the availability of standing water in the community contributes to the number of mosquitos."

But a spokesperson from the Health Department says that the amount of cases that have been reported is not a significant amount more then years past. 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Melissa Zygowicz.

Intro: 
State and local health departments have conflicting views on whether or not recent West Nile Virus cases are unusual when compared to previous years.
RunTime:  0:40
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Health Department spokesperson Ryan Hobart says that the amount of West Nile Virus cases reported is not unusual for the state.

Actuality:  HOBART1.WAV
Run Time:  00:18
Description: "The amount of cases that have been reported this year trend with some of years past. This isn't more cases or a significant amount more than would've happened in past years and people just need to be taking care of themselves and using insect repellent."

But on the other side a St. Louis health official says that the amount of reported cases is more than years past due to the wet summer.

There have been 16 reported cases of West Nile Virus in the state.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Melissa Zygowicz.