|
September
8, 2003
Little
Rock -- The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
is reporting a bird testing positive for West Nile virus
in Independence County and a seventh human confirmed
with the virus in Jefferson County. To date, 11 human
cases have been reported statewide (seven in Jefferson
County and one each in Cleburne, Miller, Pulaski and
Sevier Counties).
The
Department is also reporting horses testing positive
for the virus in Drew, Franklin, Pulaski
and Washington
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, Franklin,
Greene, Hempstead,
Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lafayette, Little River,
Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi, Phillips, Poinsett,
Pulaski,
Saline, Sebastian, Scott, Stone, 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.
###
|
