Birds Test Positive for West Nile Virus in Boone and Marion Counties

Ann Wright, (501) 661-2474

October 17, 2003

Little Rock -- The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is reporting birds testing positive for West Nile virus in Boone and Marion Counties.

The total number of human cases reported statewide is 23 (seven in Jefferson County, three in Pulaski County, two each in Miller, Pope and Arkansas counties, and one each in Benton, Cleburne, Columbia, Drew, Johnson, Sevier and Union Counties).

To date, the Department has reported birds testing positive for the West Nile virus in Arkansas, Ashley, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Craighead, Crawford, Conway, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, 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 and Ouachita Counties. The ADH will no longer be accepting birds for testing in any county where a bird has tested positive this year.

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.

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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