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August
1, 2003
Little
Rock -- The
Arkansas Department of Health is reporting a positive
mosquito pool for West Nile Virus in Green County. Mosquito pools—mosquito traps--are one of three
surveillance methods used by the department to track the
spread of the virus.
The testing of Blue jays and crows and the use of
sentinel chickens are the other two methods. Birds have tested positive in Little River, Union, Jefferson,
Arkansas, Benton, Clark, Crawford, and Hot Spring
counties. Horses
have tested positive in Logan and Sebastian Counties.
Dr. Sharon Williams, state public health veterinarian,
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.
The agency will still be accepting birds for
testing in Green County.
Residents
should take the following steps when they see a dead
crow or blue jay:
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.
Avoid
bare-hand contact when handling dead birds.
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.
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, andin 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,” Dr. Williams 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, 43 West Nile
infections were reported in Arkansas residents.
Five of these cases resulted in death.
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.
The
following protective measures are recommended:
Make
sure all windows and doors have screens in good repair.
Stay indoors when mosquitoes are more 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:
-
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.
The
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) reasserted today
that there are no confirmed cases of West Nile virus in
humans in Arkansas. For more information call the
ADH Health Information Line at 1.877.296.9555 or Local
296.9555 or the CDC West Nile virus hotline at
1.888.246-2675; 1.888.246-2857 (Spanish). For more
information, visit the ADH website at www.healthyarkansas.com/services/westnilevirus_main.htm.
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