Public Service Announcements
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- West Nile Virus with County Health Officer
- West Nile Virus Information
- Using Repellents
- Reporting Dead Birds
Frequently Asked Questions about West Nile Virus
What is West Nile Virus?
How is it spread?
What are the symptoms?
How is it treated?
What can be done to prevent infection?
How can I protect myself from West Nile Virus?
How can I prevent mosquito bites?
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus first found in the United State in 1999 when it caused illness in New York City. It is commonly found in west Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The virus can infect people, certain types of birds, mosquitoes, horses and other animals Only certain species of mosquito carry the virus.
How is it spread?
West Nile Virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. After 10 to 14 days, the infected mosquito can then transmit West Nile Virus to people and animals through its bite. West Nile virus is not spread from person-to-person or animal-to-person contact. Routine screening of blood donations for West Nile Virus since 2003 has greatly reduced the risk of West Nile Virus infection through transfused blood.
What are the symptoms?
Most people infected with West Nile Virus have no symptoms at all. About 20 percent develop symptoms that include fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle or joint pains. These symptoms can last a few days to several weeks.
Less than 1 percent of infected people will develop a more serious illness with symptoms that include headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, convulsions, tremors, and muscle weakness.
Severe cases of the virus may lead to paralysis, coma, or death. Symptoms normally appear three to 15 days after the mosquito bite. People age 50 and older are more likely to develop severe symptoms from West Nile Virus.
How is is treated?
There is no specific treatment for West Nile Virus infection. In more serious cases, treatment may involve hospitalization where patients can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, respiratory support, prevention of secondary infections, and nursing care.
What can be done to prevent infection?
Because there is currently no vaccine to protect humans from West Nile Virus, the best defense against the disease is to control mosquito populations, monitor for the presence of the virus, and prevent mosquito bites.
Protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus
Don't give mosquitoes a place to breed
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in slow-moving or standing water. A small puddle of water can breed thousands of mosquitoes each week. From April to October, when mosquitoes are most active, take steps to prevent mosquitoes from breeding:
- Remove sources of standing water, such as old tires, empty containers, pots, plastic ground covers, and anything else that holds water.
- Change water in bird baths, ponds, pet dishes, and animal troughs twice a week.
- Repair leaking faucets and sprinklers.
- Clean clogged gutters.
- Cover trash containers so they don't accumulate water.
- Properly maintain and treat your pool. Be sure pool covers do not hold pockets of water. Ornamental, self-contained ponds may be treated with larvicide to reduce mosquitoes. Follow label instructions and make sure it is for home use.
- Organize neighborhood cleanup activities to remove sources of standing water.
To report areas of standing water in Clark County, call the Clark County Mosquito Control 24-hour reporting line at (360) 397-8430. In Skamania County, call (509) 427-8055.
Prevent mosquito bites
To reduce the risk of West Nile Virus, take the following safety measure to prevent mosquito bites:
- Use mosquito repellent when you are outdoors, especially at dawn, dusk and early evening, when mosquitoes are most active. The most effective repellents contain the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Permethrin is also an effective repellents but should be applied to clothing only, not directly on the skin.
- Use any repellent according to directions, especially when applying on children. Don't allow children to apply repellents themselves. For more information on mosquito repellents, visit the Centers for Disease Control Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors so mosquitoes can't get inside.
- If possible, stay indoors during peak mosquito hours. But if being outside is irresistible on a warm summer evening, wear loose-fitting protective clothing - long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks, and hats, especially when going into woods or wetland. If heat makes extra clothing uncomfortable, then be sure you have applied repellent thoroughly.
- Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors.
