| August
25, 2003
Little
Rock --
The Arkansas Department of Health is reporting that
two additional humans tested positive for the West Nile
virus in Jefferson County. This makes a total of six
human cases statewide (all in Jefferson County). Also,
a mosquito pool has tested positive in Lawrence County
and birds have tested positive in Ashley, Conway, Greene,
Hempstead, Miller and Woodruff counties.
Dr. William Mason, Medical Leader, Office of Public
Health Preparedness, said, “The threat of West Nile
Virus for healthy people is minimal, however, as this
latest report indicates, a risk does exist. To reduce
that risk, particularly among the most susceptible —
the elderly population, the very young and those with
underlying health problems – we encourage the use of
precautionary measures. Everyone should continue to
enjoy physical activity out-of-doors, while practicing
the three D’s: use insect repellent with DEET; take
protective action (repellent and protective clothing)
especially if you have to go outside at dusk and dawn
when mosquitoes feed; drain standing water around your
house and in your yard.”
To date this season, the Department has reported birds
testing positive for the West Nile virus in Arkansas,
Ashley, Benton, Chicot, Clark, Cleburne, Craighead,
Crawford, Conway, Dallas, Drew, Greene, Hempstead, Hot
Spring, Jefferson, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi,
Pulaski, Sebastian, Union, and Woodruff counties. Horses
have tested positive in Logan and Sebastian counties,
and a positive mosquito pool has been reported in Greene
County. The ADH will no longer be accepting birds for
testing in any county where a bird has tested positive
this year.
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. 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.
After
feeding on diseased birds, mosquitoes infected with
West Nile virus transmit the disease to humans, horses
and other animals, referred to as 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. Mason said. “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.
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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