| October
4, 2001
Little Rock—The
Arkansas Department of Health and the
Livestock and Poultry Commission are reporting that
one dead Blue Jay in
Union County has tested positive at the
USGS National Wildlife Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin
for
West Nile Virus. This is the first time that the
disease has been identified in Arkansas. No human
cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Arkansas.
Mosquitoes transmit West Nile Virus directly to humans,
horses and other animals after feeding on diseased birds
which are the host animals. When mosquitoes feed on
a bird or mammal, they may pick up the virus along with
the blood meal. The virus is transmitted to humans through
the bite of an infected mosquito. Not all mosquitoes
have a virus in them, but certainly, the more mosquito
bites one gets, the greater the risk of catching a disease.
Most people that get bitten by an infected mosquito
do not get sick or only show very mild or no symptoms.
Symptoms of human West Nile Virus infections typically
begin within 14 days following the insect bite and consist
of fever, headache, rash, muscle and joint aches, listlessness,
and possibly
encephalitis (swelling of the brain which is the
most dangerous symptom). Those persons most at risk
for getting sick include people with compromised immune
systems and the elderly. There is no specific treatment
for West Nile Virus infection; avoiding mosquitoes is
the best prevention.
The Arkansas Department of Health is continuing its surveillance for mosquito-borne viruses in Arkansas and is testing dead birds and mosquitoes for the
arbovirus responsible West Nile Virus. Horses and other animals are also tested for West Nile Virus if they show signs of encephalitis. Human blood samples are being taken from patients with viral encephalitis and viral meningitis.
Dr. Tom McChesney, state epidemiologist, says, "Arkansans should report dead
crows and Blue Jays to the local health unit, so that pick-up or delivery and testing of dead birds can be arranged. Folks in the eastern
and southeastern parts of the state are encouraged to be especially alert to this problem, since Memphis is reporting
West Nile in birds and we now have a confirmed positive bird
in El Dorado."
Because of the presence of the
virus in Arkansas in birds and mosquitoes, you and your family
should take the following protective measures:
Make sure all windows and doors have screens, which are in good repair. You should also stay indoors when mosquitoes are more active. When it is necessary to be outdoors, wear protective clothing and use mosquito repellent (containing 30 percent
DEET). 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.
- Avoid prolonged and excessive use of DEET.
- Do not apply repellents in enclosed areas.
- Do not apply directly to your face.
- Wash all treated skin and clothing 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.
Mosquitoes breed in any body of water, from small containers such as
tree holes 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 on 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 bird baths.
- 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 Health Department is continuing to monitor the state with regard to mosquitoes and
mosquito-borne diseases. Health advisories will be issued as necessary.
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