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May
19, 2003
Little
Rock - The
Arkansas Department of Health is beginning its
surveillance for mosquito-borne viruses in Arkansas and
is testing dead birds and mosquitoes for West Nile
Virus. Horses
are also tested for West Nile Virus if they show signs
of encephalitis.
Dr.
Sharon Williams, state public health veterinarian, says,
“blue jays and crows are especially likely to die if
infected with West Nile virus, and, therefore, are
excellent sentinel birds for tracking the spread of the
disease. Arkansans
may bring dead blue jays and crows to their local health
unit so that testing can be arranged. Folks in the
northwestern part of the state are encouraged to be
particularly alert to this problem, since Sebastian
County is reporting a positive case of West Nile virus
in a horse.”
Here
are some facts about mosquitoes and the risks they pose
to Arkansans:
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When mosquitoes feed on an
infected bird or mammal, they may pick up the virus. The virus is transmitted to humans through
the bite of an infected mosquito.Not all mosquitoes have the virus in them,
but certainly, the more mosquito bites one gets, the
greater the risk of catching the disease. There
are no reports of WNV in humans in Arkansas so far
this year. Most
people infected with West Nile Virus do not get
sick. Less
than one percent of persons bitten by an infected
mosquito develop severe illness. Older individuals (fifty years and over) are
at greater risk of developing severe illness and
encephalitis.
-
There
is no specific treatment for arboviral infections;
avoiding mosquitoes is the best prevention.
-
Symptoms
of infection 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).
West
Nile Virus was first recognized in the Western
Hemisphere in the summer of 1999.
The virus spread quickly across the country in
three years. During
the year 2002, there were over 4,000 human cases in the
US (43 cases reported in Arkansas) that resulted in 284
deaths (three in Arkansas directly attributed to WNV and
two more deaths in persons testing positive for the
virus). In
addition, WN virus infected animals including over
12,000 horses in the country (148 in Arkansas) and
countless numbers of birds belonging to 157 species (555
birds, mostly blue jays and crows were positive in our
state).
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 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 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.
To
protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites,
make sure all windows and doors have screens, which are
in good repair. You
should also stay indoors when mosquitoes are more
active—from dusk to dawn.
When it is necessary to be outdoors during this
time, wear protective clothing and use mosquito
repellent (containing up to 35 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.
The
health department will establish an automated West Nile
virus phone line to respond to public inquiries.
If you have a question, please call
1.877.296.9555 or in Little Rock, 296.9555.
The phone line will be active in the near future,
and the public will be alerted to its activation.
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention West Nile
virus hotline is 1.888.246.2675; 1.888.246.2857
(Spanish).
The
Health Department will monitor the state with regard to
mosquitoes and arboviruses and issue health advisories
if necessary.
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