Want to know more about WEST NILE VIRUS? Here is what the experts are saying: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a seasonal epidemic that flares up in late summer and continues into the fall. It is insect borne and has been found in over 48 species of mosquitos, 300 species of birds, and 18 species of mammals, including humans. Symptoms in humans appear in 2 to 15 days and include: • Less than 1% may have severe headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis. This may last several weeks and some effects can be permanent. It can also be deadly to as many as 15% of those with severe symptoms. • About 20% have milder symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph glands, or skin rash. Symptoms last from a few days to several weeks with no residual effects. • Nearly 80% who get infected have no symptoms at all. Nearly all infections come from bites of infected mosquitos, which contract WNV from biting infected birds. WNV is not contracted through touching, kissing or other casual contact with infected people or animals. There is also no evidence that cats or dogs that eat infected birds will contract the disease. There is also no evidence that birds contract the disease from other birds, feeders, or bird baths. The risk is greatest to birds, which have high mortality rates from WNV. It has been estimated that 75% of crows east of the Mississippi have died from WNV. Some areas of the country report large reductions in backyard bird populations where WNV has been found in dead birds. What can people do? There is little that you can do to help infected birds. There is no vaccine or preventative for wild animals. Changing your bird feeding habits will have no effect. You can help remove the threat and avoid the disease yourself with a number of personal measures: • When outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA registered active ingredient, especially from dusk to dawn. • Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants. • Make sure you have good window and door screens. • Get rid of any standing water, including pots, buckets, old tires, children’s pools, and outdoor pet water dishes. Refill daily and only as needed. • Replace water often in bird baths and use water wigglers to keep water moving so mosquitos cannot breed. • Report dead or dying birds to your local Vector Control Agency. • Put up Bat houses to help increase bat populations. Bats eat as many as 600 mosquitos a night.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 22:07:39 +0000
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