Dallas in state of emergency after West Nile virus

[elk311]

BBC News - Dallas in state of emergency after West Nile virus

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[chemist]

"At least 14 people have died after contracting the virus in the state so far this year."
Texas population:
25,674,681

So 14/(25,674,681*(2/3 of a year)) = 0.08 per 100,000 per year.

Texas murder rate: 5.0/100,000 in 2010
5.4/100,000 in 2009
5.6/100,000 in 2008.
So a Texan is >60 times more likely to be murdered than to die from West Nile.

In Texas, the total death rate in my age group is 1049/100,000 per year.
Texas Department of State Health Services, Center for Health Statisitcs Annual Report, Technical Appendix-Age-Adjusted Death Rates
So about 0.008% of the deaths of Texans in my age group would be attributable to West Nile.

When I was a kid, they always sprayed for skeeters in the Summer, and we'd ride our bikes behind the fogger truck to see who could inhale the most pesticide. Why should it be any different today?

I guess it's pretty hard on the bees, and they're important in an agricultural state like Texas.