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May
19, 2004
Little
Rock —
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is reporting the state’s first bird testing positive for the West Nile virus in Washington County. Pat Harris, West Nile Virus Coordinator said, “The West Nile virus infects certain wild birds. Some infected birds, especially crows and blue jays, are known to get sick and die from the infection. Testing of dead crows and blue jays is a good way to check for West Nile virus activity in the environment and to serve as notice of the need to emphasize prevention and control measures to minimize the spread of the virus.” The virus is carried and transmitted by mosquitoes. There is no evidence that handling dead birds can transmit West Nile virus. Arkansans are encouraged to report and submit dead crows and blue jays to local health units for testing. We will no longer accept birds for testing from Washington County now that we have documented the presence of the virus there.
Residents should take the following steps when they want to submit a dead crow or blue jay to the Health Department for testing:
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Avoid submitting decomposed birds for testing. A bird cannot be tested if it is decomposed, chewed up, or has ants or maggots on the carcass.
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Avoid bare-hand contact when handling dead birds.
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Use rubber gloves when handling a dead bird. If you do not have gloves, insert your hand into a plastic bag, grasp the bird carefully and invert the bag over the bird. The bag should be tied and then placed inside a second tied bag. Double-bagging prevents cross-contamination of individual birds and leaking containers that may contaminate vehicles and handlers during transportation. If the bird is to be submitted for testing, take the bird to the nearest local health unit.
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If you cannot drop off the bird right away, then keep it cool in an ice chest until such time that it can be delivered to the local health unit.
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.
“Very few people bitten by West Nile virus infected mosquitoes experience anything beyond a day or two of feeling mild flu-like symptoms,” Harris said.
“Fewer than one percent of those bitten by an infected mosquito develop severe illness.
Those at greatest risk are the very old 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.” Last year, 26 West Nile infections were reported in Arkansas residents. None of these resulted in death.
To reduce your risk of contracting the virus, follow these protective measures:
Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most 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:
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Store out of the reach of children and read all instructions on the label before applying.
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Do not allow young children to apply DEET themselves.
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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.
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Do not apply repellents to clothing or to skin that is covered by clothing.
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Do not apply repellents in enclosed areas.
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Do not apply directly to your face.
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Wash all treated skin after returning indoors.
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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 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:
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Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers.
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Remove all discarded tires from your property.
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Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept outdoors.
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Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
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Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
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Change the water in birdbaths.
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Clean vegetation and debris from the edges of ponds.
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Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs.
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Drain water from pool covers.
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Use landscaping to eliminate stagnant water that collects on your property.
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Make sure all windows and doors have screens in good repair.
The Arkansas Department of Health reasserted today that there are no confirmed cases of West Nile virus in humans in Arkansas this year. The Health Department is continuing to monitor the state with regard to mosquito-borne diseases. The CDC is providing a West Nile virus hotline: 1-888-246-2675; 1-888-246-2857 (Spanish). For more information, visit the ADH website at
www.healthyarkansas.com/services/westnilevirus_main.htm or call the ADH hotline at
1-877-296-9555.
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