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August
7, 2003
Little
Rock -- The
Arkansas Department of Health is reporting a bird
testing positive for the West Nile virus in Pulaski
County. In addition, birds have tested positive in
Arkansas, Benton, Clark, Cleburne, Crawford, Hot Spring,
Jefferson, Little River, Mississippi, Sebastian and
Union counties. Horses have tested positive in Logan and
Sebastian Counties, and a positive mosquito pool has
been reported in Greene County. The state’s first
human case this year was reported August 6, 2003, in
Jefferson County.
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. 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
Pulaski County now that we have documented the presence
of the virus there.
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, 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,” 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.
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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