Fear and Loathing in Washington, D.C.

Recently eaten: cafeteria food at American University
Recent annoyance: one-note songs

Everyone knows that I already have a hate-repulse relationship with birds (more to come on this subject in Phobia Cornucopia. Stay tuned). Now here's a reason why we should all give Big Bird the ol' dead leg and run like hell.

West Nile Virus Spreads More Easily, Study Finds
Read as: "Birds are dirty, disease-mongering animals that are minions of the devil and out to destroy humankind." Let's look at some facts from this article, shall we?

Exhibit A--West Nile, which killed 88 people in the United States last year and more in previous years, is typically thought to be transmitted by birds. Infected mosquitoes can in turn pass the virus to humans.

It had been believed that once an infected mosquito bit a bird, the virus needed about a week to build up in the bird before another mosquito could be infected by biting the same bird.The new study shows West Nile can infect a new mosquito within an hour after entering an avian host.

"We just didn’t know this could happen," said lead author Stephen Higgs of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston told LiveScience."

Reason to panic--What does he mean that we just didn't know this could happen? What other unknown bird weapons are they hiding from us? Tune in and turn on, kids. This is an epidemic and the scientists are totally in on it!

Exhibit B--This diagram of how West nile Virus is transmitted. Incidental transmission, my foot! Stop looking at me, Crow! Your beady little eyes betray your diabolical plan.


Reason to panic--"Nearly 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus show no symptoms at all. Among the other 20 percent, symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects can be permanent."

Stupor, disorientation? Oh man, I'm a goner.