Taking the Bite Out of the West Nile Virus
by Debbie Buco
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction
You lie in the quiet darkness of your room, waiting to fall asleep! Suddenly, you hear the aggravating whine of a mosquito buzzing in your ear. It’s there and then it’s gone! Several minutes go by and you begin to drift off. Buzz! You hear it again. You swat at the empty air, hoping to banish the little monster. Finally, you retreat under the sheet, hoping to avoid the painful bite of the pesky creature.
In the past, the buzzing whine of a mosquito was simply an annoyance and its bite an itchy reminder! Now, mosquitoes carry the deadly West Nile Virus and every bite is a potential killer. Since it’s introduction into the United States in 1999, the West Nile Virus has spread quickly across the eastern United States, affecting both the horse and human population. As of September, 2002, over 985 human cases of West Nile Virus had been identified in 30 states. Nationwide, over 43 people have died as a result of this mosquito-borne illness. Louisiana and Illinois have been hit the hardest with the virus. In Louisiana, 222 cases of West Nile Virus have been reported and nine people have died from the disease!
It is important for us to discover everything that we can about the West Nile Virus so that we can protect ourselves against this illness. Finding out about viruses, methods of controlling mosquitoes, and ways of protecting people is a very big job! Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of information that you will need to explore in order to make informed decisions. Don’t give up as you try to take the bite out of the West Nile Virus!
The Question
The main question you will be asked to find an answer for is:
WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THE WEST NILE VIRUS?
Louisiana’s governor feels very strongly about doing everything possible to fight against the spread of the West Nile Virus in our state. Because of this, he is appointing YOU to an official West Nile Virus Commission to study the problem and brainstorm solutions! Instead of only putting legislators and government officials on the committee, Gov. Foster has decided that the committee will be made up of people from different backgrounds so that we can learn as much about the West Nile Virus as possible from many points of view.
Your committee will need to become experts on all aspects of the West Nile Virus before suggesting ways for Louisiana to “Fight the Bite!” Members of the committee will write an action plan suggesting what Louisiana needs to do to combat the West Nile Virus. The committee will need to make a budget for spending $100,000 that was recently allocated by the legislature for this purpose.
Your team will develop a Group Report that suggests an action plan, taking into account the following perspectives: Entomology, Epidemiology, Medical, and Parental concerns.
Your action plan will make suggestions about educating people about the virus, controlling mosquitoes, personal protection, and medical solutions. Tell the governor how much money to spend on each suggestion that you make.
By completing this WebQuest you should achieve the following goals:
1. Develop an interest in and learn about the West Nile Virus.
2. Use the power of the Internet to study mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus.
3. Use higher level thinking skills and creativity to find solutions to a problem.
4. Work with teammates to problem solve a combined action plan.
Background Information
Studying the life cycle of the mosquito will help you understand the West Nile Virus! Your committee could hatch mosquito eggs, make observations, record scientific data about what you see, and draw a diagram of the mosquito metamorphosis!
If you live in Louisiana, kits are available for a small fee from:
East Baton Rouge Parish Mosquito Abatement
2829 Gen. Ben Davis Jr. Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70807
(225) 356-3297
Before becoming an expert on one aspect of this topic, we'd better make sure that everyone on your WebQuest team knows the basics. Use the links below to answer the six general questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? As you explore the background links, work together to take blurb notes on each general question. Make sure everyone on your team can answer all the questions before moving into your individual roles.
How Mosquitoes Work
Time for Kids-- Mosquito Alert
Center for Disease Control--West Nile Virus Background Click on Overview
Mosquito Bytes
American Mosquito Control Association--Mosquito Information Life Cycle of the Mosquito
Mosquito Movies
West Nile Virus Transmission Cycle Terrific diagram showing WNV cycle!
CDC West Nile Virus Case Count
Individual Roles
Now that you have some overall background knowledge, it's time to return to the main question for this WebQuest. Questions this big and important are better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. Things work even better when a group of you decide to look at the question from different perspectives. This way team members can become experts on different aspects of the question and then come together to share their learning. This is where team work pays off. So are you ready to divide and conquer this question?
Doctor
You are the committee's medical expert! Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1. What is a virus and how is it spread? Who is at risk?
2. What are the symptoms and treatment for the West Nile virus?
3. What recommendations would you make to keep people safe?
- AMCA Mosquito Information Mosquito Control
- Look for the subtopic on Mosquito Control
- AMCA Mosquito Information Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Look for the subtopic on Mosquito-borne Diseases
- Encephalitis and the West Nile Virus
- Virus
- Virtual Virus
- How a Virus Works
- Electron Micrograph of West Nile Virus
- Photograph of West Nile virus in the brain tissue of a crow
- CDC West Nile Virus Doctor
- Click on Who's at Risk?, Symptoms, and Treatment
Entomologist
You are an outstanding scientist who studies insects! You work for the Mosquito Control agency in your parish. Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1. What important things do you need to know about the life cycle of mosquitoes when trying to control them?
2. What actions would you recommend to reduce the mosquito population in Louisiana?
3. What kinds of mosquito control would you recommend for larvae and adult mosquitoes? Consider spraying, biological controls, and mosquito traps.
- Mosquitoes in Your Life
- Robyn's Mosquito Fish Page
- Is the mosquito fish good or bad? You decide!
- AMCA Mosquito Information Mosquito Control
- Look for the subtopic on Mosquito Control
- Encarta Article on DDT
- Death to Mosquitoes
Parent
You are very concerned about your child's safety at home and at school! Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1. What could you suggest to your neighbors about preventing the West Nile Virus in your subdivision?
2. What recommendations could you make for the local elementary school in order to keep your child safe?
3. Research insect repellants and decide what kinds would best protect your child.
- Mosquito Fish
- Mosquito Magnet
- Sonic Web Biting Insect Control Machine
- A Primer on Mosquito Traps
- Mosquito Magnet vs. ABC
- Protecting Our Children from the West Nile Virus
- Insect Repellant Information
- How much DEET is in a repellant?
- CDC West Nile Virus Insect Repellent Use and Safety
- Click on Insect Repellent Use and Safety
Epidemiologist
An epidemiologist is a scientist who studies diseases! You are an expert on the West Nile Virus! Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1. Explain how the West Nile Virus is transmitted. Give at least 3 recommendations to stop the disease from getting to people.
2. Based on the maps of the WNV in the USA in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, where would you predict the virus will be in the summer of 2003.
3. Look at the map of Louisiana parishes showing where the WNV has affected birds and people. Predict which parishes will have the next WNV outbreaks in Louisiana?
4. Look at the table showing the number of cases and deaths in Louisiana. Tell which age group is most 'at risk.' Give at least two reasons to support this. Create a graph to show this data.
- State of LA Arbovirus Surveillance Program 2002
- Summary of Dead Birds
- Surveillance and Control of West Nile Virus
- Maps of WNV in USA in 1999- 2002
- National Pest Alert --The West Nile Virus in North America
- Map Showing Louisiana Wild Birds with WNV
- September 11, 2002 distribution of birds with WNV
- USGS West Nile Virus Maps for 2002
- Click on buttons for human, bird, and mosquito maps of virus
- Prevalence of Human Cases of WNV--Oct. 10, 2002
- Map of parishes with infected birds and humans
- Prevalence of Human Cases of WNV--Sept. 26, 2002
- Map of parishes with infected birds and humans
- Lousiana Mosquito Map
- Click on 'Most recent table of cases and deaths'
Just for Fun!
Use the links below to learn more about the West Nile Virus while having fun!
- Tracking Down Your Mosquito Problems
- Suggestions and Game
- SWAT
- Swat the Mosquito Game
Group Synthesis
Congratulations! Your team is absolutely 'buzzing' with expertise! Each person (or pair) on your team have become experts on the topic of West Nile Virus. You've all learned a lot of information. Share all of this information and come up with a 'plan of action' to swat the WNV! Be sure to be attentive listeners! See where you all agree and where differences arise.
Use the information, pictures, facts, and opinions that you explored to brainstorm solutions to the West Nile Virus problem. Hitchhike off of ideas you read to create new kinds of solutions! Convince your teammates that your ideas are important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion).
Use a technique from Creative Problem Solving to choose your best idea!
1. Evaluate your ideas by thinking of criteria to judge them. Make a chart listing your best solutions to the West Nile Virus problem.
2. Choose about 3 criteria to judge the ideas. Examples of criteria would be, 'Which idea would work the best?' and 'Which idea would be the safest for the environment?' Think of others!
3. Now give each solution a score for each criteria that you listed. The high score for each criteria will be the same as the number of ideas that you have in your list. If you have 5 ideas, make 5 your highest score. If you have 8 ideas, 8 will become your highest score. The lowest score for each criteria will always be 1. Two ideas can never have the same score for a criteria. This is called a 'forced choice.'
4. The ideas with the highest scores will be your best ones.
5. Now spend the $100,000 budget on your ideas! You may want to make paper money to help you think about this. Write each idea on a piece of paper and then distribute your money into categories until everyone in your group agrees.
Your WebQuest team should write out a final report that everyone on the team can live with. Include the following parts in your report to Governor Foster:
1. Introduction
Background information about the West Nile Virus
2. Recommendations
What is your 'plan of action?' Tell the governor what steps should be taken in response to the West Nile Virus?
Include suggestions about:
a. Educating people about the virus.
b. Controlling mosquitoes
c. Personal protection
d. Medical solutions
3. Budget for expenditures of $100,000
4. Predictions for the future of the West Nile Virus
Real World Feedback:
Governor Foster
Conclusion
At the beginning of this activity, you were challenged to solve the problem of the West Nile Virus! Did you discover the answer? Was there only one answer or were there lots of solutions? Did everyone on your team feel like your efforts were successful? How did you answer the main question for this WebQuest? Have you checked the evaluation rubric to guide what you did?
You deserve a lot of praise for all the work you've done. And so does your brain. You've sure put that gray stuff to the test. You gained background information, developed expertise in one particular area and got into some pretty expert analysis. At times, you must have felt confused with ideas spinning every which way. That's part of the fun that goes with problem solving!
The mosquito graphic is in the public domain from the following website: http://cindi/usgs.gov/hazard/event/west_nile/west_nile.html
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created by Debbie Buco email: bucod@apsb.org http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/dbuco/westnilevirus/webquest.htm |