By By Staff Reports
A confirmed case of West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in Escambia County, according to officials with the Escambia County Health Department.
Tuesday, officials announced that a sentinel chicken from the Riverview area had tested positive for the virus. Ongoing public health surveillance has detected no mosquito-borne virus activity in humans in Escambia County this year.
West Nile virus (WNV), EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Occasionally, the same mosquitoes will take blood from mammals, including humans and horses. Humans and horses can sometimes become ill from the infection. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of WNV and EEE vaccine in horses. There is no vaccine available for humans, health officials said.
Escambia County Health Department established a mosquito control program in 2008 that includes surveillance activities such as mosquito trapping and sentinel chicken surveillance. These activities are conducted to monitor for mosquito-borne diseases and track mosquito populations. Serum samples are taken each week from the six sentinel chicken flocks and tested for the presence of WNV, EEE and St. Louis Encephalitis.
Mosquitoes that can spread these viruses among birds are commonly found in urban and suburban communities as well as rural, freshwater swamp areas. They will breed readily in storm sewers, ditches, waste lagoons and in artificial containers around one’s home. Health officials said it is important that homeowners do a careful inspection around their homes to be sure nothing holds water for longer than three days. Larvicide briquettes are available free to the public for application in low-lying areas that retain water and ornamental ponds. These briquettes are available at the Atmore and Brewton locations.
Mosquito-borne virus surveillance has been conducted statewide for the past five years. During that time, EEE, WNV, St. Louis Encephalitis virus, and La Crosse Encephalitis virus have been detected. Epidemiologists point out that EEE can be more dangerous to people and other mammals than other mosquito-borne viruses, but that the same mosquito prevention measures reduce exposures to both. The health department will continue to notify local officials of test results and recommend methods of prevention.
Since mosquitoes are commonly found throughout much of Alabama, health officials offer practical strategies for the mosquito season:
PERSONAL PROTECTION; CLOTHING AND AROMATICS
Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothes to help prevent mosquitoes from reaching the skin and to retain less heat, making yourself less “attractive” to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors.
When possible, wear long sleeves and long pants.
Avoid perfumes, colognes, fragrant hair sprays, lotions and soaps, which attract mosquitoes.
PERSONAL PROTECTION; REPELLENTS
Follow the label instructions when applying repellents. Permethrin repellents are only for clothes - not for application on the skin.
When using repellents avoid contact with the eyes, lips and nasal membranes. Use concentrations of less than 10 percent when applying DEET-containing products on children
Apply DEET repellent on arms, legs and other exposed areas but never under clothing.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
Citronella candles and repellents containing citronella can help, but their range is limited. Herbals such as cedar, geranium, pennyroyal, lavender, cinnamon and garlic are not very effective.
PERSONAL PROTECTION; AROUND THE HOME
Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and again at dawn; restrict outdoor activity during these hours.
Keep windows and door screens in good condition.
Replace porch lights with yellow light bulbs that will attract fewer insects.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water; empty all water from old tires, cans, jars, buckets, drums, plastic wading pools, toys and other containers.
Clean clogged gutters.
Remove the rim from potted plants and replace water in plant/flower vases weekly.
Replenish pet watering dishes daily and rinse bird baths twice weekly.
Fill tree holes and depressions left by fallen trees with dirt or sand.
Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito fish (fish which eat mosquitoes in their larval and pupal stages) or use larvicidal “doughnuts” which gradually kill mosquitoes.