FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2002
Little
Rock—The Arkansas Department of Health reports
that the Arkansas
Livestock and Poultry Commission received a Blue
Jay found in Hughes, Arkansas, in St.
Francis County that tested positive for the West
Nile Virus (WNV).
The
Blue Jay was found on June 22 and taken to the and then
to the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. After
obtaining a positive test result, the bird was sent
toLee
County Health Unit the USGS
National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin,
for confirmation. This is the first bird confirmed positive
for WNV for 2002. The total number of birds found positive
for WNV in 2001 was four; including the two jays found
positive in El
Dorado (map),
Benton
(map)
and Fort
Smith (map).
No human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported
in Arkansas.
Mosquitoes
transmit West Nile Virus directly to humans, horses
and other animals after feeding on diseased birds, the
host animals. When mosquitoes feed on a bird or mammal,
they may pick up the virus along with the blood meal.
The virus is transmitted to humans through the bite
of an infected mosquito. Not all mosquitoes have a virus
in them, but certainly, the more mosquito bites one
gets, the greater the risk of catching a disease. Most
people that get bitten by an infected mosquito do not
get sick or only show very mild or no symptoms. Symptoms
of human West Nile Virus infections typically begin
within 14 days following the insect bite and consist
of fever, headache, rash, muscle and joint aches, listlessness,
and possibly encephalitis (inflammation of the brain
which is the most dangerous symptom).
Those
persons most at risk for getting sick include people
with compromised immune systems and the elderly. There
is no specific treatment for West Nile Virus infection;
avoiding mosquitoes is the best prevention.
The
Arkansas Department of Health is continuing its surveillance
for mosquito-borne viruses in Arkansas and is testing
dead crows and blue jays and mosquitoes for the arbovirus
responsible West Nile Fever. Horses are also tested
for West Nile Virus if they show signs of encephalitis.
Human blood samples are being taken from patients with
viral encephalitis and viral meningitis.
Dr.
Tom McChesney, state epidemiologist, says, “Arkansans
should take freshly (not decomposed, no ants or maggots)
dead crows and Blue Jays to their local health unit,
so testing of these birds can be arranged. Because of
the presence of the virus in Arkansas in birds and mosquitoes,
the public should take the following protective measures.
Make
sure all windows and doors have screens, which are in
good repair. Stay indoors when mosquitoes are more active.
When it is necessary to be outdoors, wear protective
clothing and use mosquito repellent (containing up to
30 percent DEET). 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.
- Avoid
prolonged and excessive use of DEET.
- Do
not apply repellents in enclosed areas.
- Do
not apply directly to your face.
- Wash
all treated skin and clothing 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.
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. These breeding places create
a variety of mosquito problems. 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 on 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 bird baths.
- 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
Health Department is continuing to monitor the state
with regard to mosquito-borne diseases. For more information
on West Nile Virus, visit our website at www.healthyarkansas.com/services/westnilevirus_main.htm.
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