MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has launched a new initiative to raise awareness of the human toll exacted by West Nile Virus. The “I’m One” program consists of a 30-second public service announcement available through the AMCA Web site, www.mosquito.org.
The “I’m One” program is designed to emphasize that West Nile disease has a human face, suffered by individuals and their families. Its primary element, the public service announcement video, depicts actual West Nile victims and describes the effects of the disease upon their lives.
The "I’m One" program illustrates that while most people infected with the virus will show mild or no symptoms, the disease can cause sustained disability or death.
“Disease statistics are but pale shadows of the very real human experience of this devastating disease. This is not a benign disease, to be taken lightly,” said Joseph M. Conlon, technical advisor to the AMCA. Since 1999 nearly 28,000 cases of West Nile Virus, with more than 11,000 cases of neuroinvasive disease and 1,100 fatalities have occurred in the United States.
West Nile Virus is a potentially serious disease primarily carried by birds. Mosquitoes contract the virus when feeding on infected birds; this virus is then transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. The AMCA Web site provides tips on how to prevent the virus by reducing exposure to mosquitoes.
For more information about the “I’m One” program or AMCA, visit www.mosquito.org or contact amca@mosquito.org.