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October
3, 2003
Little
Rock --
The Arkansas
Department of Health (ADH) is reporting birds testing
positive for West Nile virus in Logan, Newton and Randolph
Counties.
To date, 17 human cases have been reported statewide
(seven in Jefferson County. two in Pulaski County,
and one each in Cleburne, Columbia, Drew, Johnson,
Miller, Pope, Sevier and Union Counties).
The Department has reported 18 horses testing positive
for WNV by the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission
in Bradley, Cleburne, Conway, Drew, Franklin, Greene,
Independence, Jefferson, Lee, Logan, Sebastian, Van
Buren and Washington Counties.
To date, the Department has reported birds testing
positive for the West Nile virus in Arkansas, Ashley,
Benton, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Craighead,
Crawford, Conway, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin,
Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lafayette,
Lawrence, Little River, Logan Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi,
Monroe, Newton, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Pulaski,
Randolph, Saline, Sebastian, Scott, Stone, Union, Washington,
and Woodruff counties. 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.
People who are considered at risk of infection are
residents and visitors to areas with an established
presence of the virus and people who engage in outdoor
work and recreational activities. Persons over age
50 and younger than age 15 seem to be at greatest risk
for developing severe disease.
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.”
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. 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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