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September 4, 2003
Little Rock --
The
Arkansas Department of Health is reporting birds testing
positive for
West Nile
virus in Franklin,
Lafayette, Phillips, Poinsett, Saline, Scott, and
Stone
Counties. There are a total of ten human cases statewide
(six in
Jefferson
County
and one each in
Cleburne
, Miller, Pulaski and
Sevier
Counties
). Dr.
William Mason, Medical Leader, Office of Public Health
Preparedness, said, “We urge the community to be aware
that while the risk of West Nile Virus for healthy
people is minimal, we are never out of the woods with
regard to this disease.
We advise precautionary measures, particularly
among the most susceptible — the elderly population,
the very young and those with underlying health
problems. 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, Faulkner, Greene,
Hempstead, Hot Spring,
Jefferson, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi, Pulaski, Sebastian, Union,
Washington, and Woodruff counties. A positive mosquito pool has
been reported in Greene
County. Horses have tested positive in Sebastian, Logan and
Van Buren Counties. 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.
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.
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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