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February
19, 2004
Little
Rock -- The Arkansas Department of Health has completed the compilation of data for the 2003 West Nile Virus season. The human case count for 2003 in Arkansas is 26 West Nile virus infections, with no deaths attributable to the disease. Case count by county is as follows: Jefferson (7), Pulaski (4), Miller (2), Arkansas (2), Pope (2), Benton (1), Cleburne (1), Columbia (1), Drew (1), Johnson (1), Sevier (1), Union (2), and Bradley (1).
The Department has reported birds testing positive for the West Nile virus in Arkansas, Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Craighead, Crawford, Conway, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Newton, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sebastian, Scott, Stone, Union, Washington, and Woodruff counties.
Positive mosquito pools for West Nile Virus have been reported in Greene, Lawrence, Sebastian, and Ouachita counties.
Dr. Fay Boozman, Director of the Arkansas Department of Health, said, “It is regrettable that some Arkansans were infected by the West Nile virus, but we are very grateful both that there were no deaths from this disease in 2003, and that we had significantly fewer cases than last year. Prevention is the key to fighting this disease outbreak, and we encourage all Arkansans to implement prevention practices year round. West Nile Virus is something we all have to learn to live with.”
Preventative measures for West Nile Virus infection include:
- Application of a personal insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) according to label instructions in a 25 percent concentration for adults, and in a 10 percent concentration for children.
- Avoidance of mosquito infested areas between dusk and dawn.
- Wearing of long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors in any areas where mosquitoes are active, to keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
The Health Department especially advises these precautionary measures be taken by the most susceptible members of the community - the elderly, the very young, and those with underlying health problems.
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 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 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 Health Department will again be monitoring for the virus in 2004. The Department will issue alerts as necessary throughout 2004 concerning West Nile virus. For more information, call the Arkansas Department of Health West Nile Virus Hotline at 1-877-296-9555.
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