ADH | Press Release | August 20, 2007

(Little Rock) The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is reporting that the first human death from West Nile Virus infection in Arkansas this year has occurred. So far this year there have been three human cases reported in the state, one of which has resulted in death. Last year there were four (4) deaths from West Nile Virus with twenty-nine (29) confirmed human cases statewide. Nationally so far this year, there have been 444 reported human cases, with 15 deaths.

Surveillance conducted by ADH has confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus in several counties in Arkansas so far this season. Birds in Benton, Greene, Jefferson, Pulaski, Sebastian, Washington and White counties, along with mosquito pools in Crittenden, Greene and Sebastian Counties, have been shown to be positive.

Media members are reminded that the new information on birds, chickens and mosquito pools infected with West Nile virus will be posted on the ADH West Nile virus website weekly. The website is at http://www.healthyarkansas.com/services/westnilevirus_information.htm and will be updated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials.

“These results confirm what we have come to expect from summer in Arkansas,” Melody Parsley, Senior Epidemiologist and West Nile Virus program manager said. “Unfortunately, West Nile virus has become endemic in the state. This means that to protect yourself you should avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. If you have to be outside, wear long-sleeved clothing and protect yourself with a good insect repellent. It’s also a good idea to drain standing water around your home in places where mosquitoes can breed.”

“Very few people bitten by West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes experience anything beyond a day or two of feeling mild flu-like symptoms,” Parsley said. “Fewer than one percent of those bitten by an infected mosquito develop severe illness. Those at greatest risk are the elderly and those with underlying health problems. The surest way to stop the spread of these mosquito-borne diseases is prevention, and every household can take action.”

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.

To reduce your risk of contracting the virus, follow these protective measures: Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active, usually at dusk and dawn. When it is necessary to be outdoors, wear protective clothing and use mosquito repellent that is FDA approved. 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.

Two additional insect repellents have recently been approved by the EPA and are recommended along with DEET by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for protection against mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile Virus. The first is Picaridin, which is a chemical compound found in many insect repellants popular in Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America. Evidence shows it works very well and is equally as effective as DEET for personal protection. Picaridin is not to be used on children under the age of three. The second is oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is plant-derived and is as effective as low concentrations of DEET for prevention of mosquito bites. Both products are widely available now and offer good alternatives to products containing DEET. DEET continues to be the most effective choice when long hours of exposure to mosquitoes are anticipated or when rigorous physical activity is planned, which can diminish the presence of the repellant through perspiration. As with any product, follow label directions carefully and use only in the manner described.

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. These breeding places create a variety of mosquito problems. To help stop mosquitoes from breeding, Arkansans should:

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.
Make sure all windows and doors have screens in good repair.

The Arkansas Department of Health is continuing to monitor the state with regard to mosquito-borne diseases. The CDC is providing a hotline where you may ask questions about West Nile Virus: 1-888-246-2675; 1-888-246-2857 (Spanish).