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he Waterloo Region L cam on ent has released a series of fact sheets to educate the public about the West Nile Virus Facts to combat West Nile Virus it has been found in New York state, the local health department is launching an awareness campaign titled "Put Mosquitoes Out of To date, WNV has not been identified in any mos,, quito, bird or human in West Nile Virus, named after the West Nile province in Uganda where it was first identified in 1937, is a mosâ€" quitoâ€"borne virus that can cause illness in humans. The virus first appeared in the western hemisphere in New York City during the summer of 1999 and resultâ€" ed in 61 cases and seven deaths. In the summer of 2000, it spread throughout New York state and to several northeastern states, howevâ€" er there were only 21 cases and two deaths. The virus is spread to people through the bite of an _ infected â€" mosquito. Mosquitoes become infectâ€" ed by biting a bird that carâ€" ries the virus. The virus canâ€" not be spread, however, from person to person. In _ most _ otherwise healthy people, the virus may cause mild illness resulting in symptoms such as swollen lymph glands, fever, headache, body aches or a mild rash before fully recovering. Some people show no symptoms at all. permanent _ neurological damage and may be fatal. The elderly and immune compromised are at the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill. Very rarely, the virus can cause swelling of the brain, or acute encephalitis, a seriâ€" The campaign includes a series of fact sheets dealing with issues such as public health risks, the reporting of dead birds to monitor the spread of the virus, elimiâ€" nating mosquito breeding grounds and reducing the help needed Medieval Faire Hear ye, hear ye. Volunteers are needed for the Royal Medieval Faire, to be held Saturday, Sept. 15 at Waterloo Park. Volunteers can help with gating, parking, secuâ€" rity, volunteer hospitality, the information booth, cosâ€" tumes and props, or setâ€"up and tearâ€"down (Friday and Saturday). An orientation session will be held Aug.15 from 7â€" 9 p.m in the Hauser Haus at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex on Father David Bauer Drive. For more information, call the volunteer coordinaâ€" tor at 581â€"1072. risk of transmission by avoiding mosquitoes and taking personal protective measures. "We are releasing the fact sheets so that residents in the region can take approâ€" priate action," said Dr. Liana Nolan, associate medical officer of health at the region. "We want the public to be aware, but not "To monitor the emerâ€" gence of the virus, we are asking the public to report certain species of dead birds, specifically crows, blue jays, grey jays and raven, to the community health department so that "Dead birds are the earliâ€" est and easiest means of monitoring the emergence of the virus." can be tested for the Associate Broker