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September
17, 2003
Little
Rock -- The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is
reporting a human case of West Nile virus in Drew
County. To date, 15 human cases have been reported
statewide (seven in Jefferson County. two in Pulaski
County, and one each in Cleburne, Columbia, Drew,
Johnson, Miller, and Sevier Counties).
Previously, the
Department reported an equine case of West Nile virus in
Bradley County, and 14 horses testing positive
for WNV by the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission
in Bradley, Cleburne, Conway, Drew, Franklin, Greene,
Jefferson, Logan, Sebastian and Van Buren Counties.
To date this season, the
Department has reported birds testing positive for the
West Nile virus in Arkansas, Ashley, Benton, Chicot,
Clark, Cleburne, Craighead, Crawford, Conway, Dallas,
Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Greene, Hempstead, Hot
Spring, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Little River,
Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett,
Pulaski, Saline, Sebastian, Scott, Stone, Union,
Washington, and Woodruff counties. A positive mosquito
pool has been reported in Greene County. The ADH will no
longer be accepting birds for testing in any county
where a bird has tested positive this year.
People who are considered
at risk of infection are residents and visitors to areas
with an established presence of the virus and people who
engage in outdoor work and recreational activities.
Persons over age 50 and younger than age 15 seem to be
at greatest risk for developing severe disease.
Dr. William Mason,
Medical Leader, Office of Public Health Preparedness,
said, “We urge the community to be aware that while
the risk of West Nile Virus for healthy people is
minimal, we are never out of the woods with regard to
this disease. We advise precautionary measures,
particularly among the most susceptible — the elderly
population, the very young and those with underlying
health problems. Everyone should continue to enjoy
physical activity out-of-doors, while practicing the
three D’s: use insect repellent with DEET; take
protective action (repellent and protective clothing)
especially if you have to go outside at dusk and dawn
when mosquitoes feed; drain standing water around your
house and in your yard.”
Mosquitoes can breed in
any body of water, from small containers such as tires
and tin cans, to large bodies of water like lakes or
marshes. To help stop mosquitoes from breeding,
Arkansans should:
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Dispose
of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or
similar water-holding containers.
-
Remove
all discarded tires from your property.
-
Drill
holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that
are kept outdoors.
-
Make
sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged
gutters in the spring and fall.
-
Turn
over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not
in use.
-
Change
the water in birdbaths.
-
Clean
vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds.
-
Clean
and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and
hot tubs.
-
Drain
water from pool covers.
-
Use
landscaping to eliminate stagnant water that
collects on your property.
The following protective
measures are recommended:
Make sure all windows and doors have screens in good
repair. Stay indoors when mosquitoes are more active,
usually from dusk to dawn. When it is necessary to be
outdoors, wear protective clothing and use mosquito
repellent containing up to 35 percent DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide).
Use the following
precautions when using repellents containing DEET:
- Store out of the reach
of children and read all instructions on the label
before applying.
- Do not allow young
children to apply DEET themselves.
- Do not apply DEET
directly to children. Apply to your own hands and
then put it on the child, avoiding the child’s
face and hands.
- Do not apply
repellents to clothing or to skin that is covered by
clothing.
- Do not apply
repellents in enclosed areas.
- Do not apply directly
to your face.
- Wash all treated skin
after returning indoors.
If you believe you or your child is having an adverse
reaction to a repellent containing DEET, wash the
treated area immediately and call your health care
provider.
West Nile virus is
transmitted by infected mosquitoes to humans, horses and
other animals after feeding on diseased birds, which are
the host animals. Symptoms of human West Nile virus
infections typically begin within 14 days following the
insect bite and consist of fever, muscle and joint
aches, listlessness, and in most severe cases, headaches
which may indicate encephalitis (inflammation of the
brain). There is no specific treatment for West Nile
virus infection; avoiding mosquitoes is the best
prevention. Last year, 43 West Nile infections were
reported in Arkansas residents. Five of these cases
resulted in death.
For more information call
the ADH Health Information Line at 1.877.296.9555 or
Local 296.9555 or the CDC West Nile virus hotline at
1.888.246-2675; 1.888.246-2857 (Spanish). For more
information, visit the ADH website at www.healthyarkansas.com/services/westnilevirus_main.htm.
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