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Outdoors people don't have to let West Nile virus bug them
MDC
April 2003
The chances of contracting this mosquito-borne disease are small, and a few simple precautions can reduce them further.
JEFFERSON CITY--With the return of warm weather, mosquitoes are again becoming part of everyday life in Missouri. With them comes a chance of contracting West Nile virus. However, public health officials say the risk is small, and people can manage their risk with common-sense precautions.
West Nile virus has long been common in Africa, west and central Asia and the Middle East. It was first found in the United States in 1999, when birds and people in New York City were diagnosed with West Nile fever. Since then, it has spread throughout the eastern and central United States.
Although people, dogs, cats, horses and other mammals can be infected, birds are the virus' primary host. Crows and blue jays are particularly susceptible. The virus gets into humans and domestic animals with the help of mosquitoes, which harbor viruses in their bodies after biting infected birds.
Avoiding West Nile virus means avoiding mosquito bites. To do this:
--Eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. For example, clogged rain gutters, old tires, buckets and swimming pool covers.
--Empty bird baths and other water containers weekly to get rid of mosquito larvae.
--Use insect repellents containing N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide, commonly known as DEET. Apply only as directed. Adults shouldn't use repellents with DEET concentrations higher than 50 percent. For children ages 2 through 12, use repellents with concentrations of 10 percent or less.
--Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks to avoid mosquito bites.
-- Stock fish in ponds. Many fish--even goldfish--eat mosquito larvae.
Small-scale insecticide spraying is ineffective, because mosquitoes can travel several miles on the wind.
"It is important for Missourians to be aware of this disease and to take reasonable precautions, such as using insect repellents and eliminating standing water around their homes," said Howard Pue, Public Health Veterinarian with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). "However, people should keep the risk of West Nile virus in perspective. This is just one of several insect- or tick-borne diseases--along with St. Louis encephalitis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever--that have been around for a number of years. We haven't let those stop us from attending little league baseball games, going on picnics, fishing or hunting. West Nile virus is no different, really."
A clinical investigation in New York City showed that 2.6 percent of the human population there was infected with West Nile virus following the 1999 transmission season. Another study showed that eight out of ten people who were infected with West Nile virus had no symptoms and suffered no ill effects.
In 2002 the DHSS recorded 168 cases of West Nile infection where people had symptoms. Of those, 50 had only West Nile fever, with flu-like symptoms. The other 118 developed the more serious West Nile encephalitis or meningitis. Seven human deaths were linked to West Nile virus infection in Missouri.
The risk of serious West Nile infection is higher for people over age 50. One case of West Nile virus transmission was identified between a pregnant mother and her unborn child, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, it appears the virus can be transmitted through breast milk. The CDC recommends that pregnant women and nursing mothers take precautions to reduce their risk of West Nile virus infection. However, the CDC does not suggest a change in the American Academies of Pediatricians' and Family Physicians' breast-feeding recommendations. These recommendations are available at http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html.
Several companies are working to develop a vaccine against the disease. The disease does not spread from person to person.
The Consumer Specialty Products Association advises against combining insect repellents and sunscreen. Doing so reduces the effectiveness of both products. If you can't find a product with both sunscreen and repellent, apply insect repellent and take measures to reduce sun exposure.
In samples of Missouri wild birds, West Nile virus was found in four game species: mallard, mourning dove, wood duck and Canada goose. Although no cases of West Nile infection from game animals have been identified, the CDC has confirmed that two laboratory workers became infected last summer when their broken skin came into contact with infected animal tissues or blood. It urges hunters to follow the precautions they would use when handling any wild animal. This includes wearing gloves when handling and cleaning animals to prevent blood exposure to bare hands and ensuring that meat is cooked thoroughly.
More information about West Nile virus is available from the DHSS at http://www.dhss.state.mo.us/WestNileVirus/.
- Jim Low -
MDC
April 2003
The chances of contracting this mosquito-borne disease are small, and a few simple precautions can reduce them further.
JEFFERSON CITY--With the return of warm weather, mosquitoes are again becoming part of everyday life in Missouri. With them comes a chance of contracting West Nile virus. However, public health officials say the risk is small, and people can manage their risk with common-sense precautions.
West Nile virus has long been common in Africa, west and central Asia and the Middle East. It was first found in the United States in 1999, when birds and people in New York City were diagnosed with West Nile fever. Since then, it has spread throughout the eastern and central United States.
Although people, dogs, cats, horses and other mammals can be infected, birds are the virus' primary host. Crows and blue jays are particularly susceptible. The virus gets into humans and domestic animals with the help of mosquitoes, which harbor viruses in their bodies after biting infected birds.
Avoiding West Nile virus means avoiding mosquito bites. To do this:
--Eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes breed. For example, clogged rain gutters, old tires, buckets and swimming pool covers.
--Empty bird baths and other water containers weekly to get rid of mosquito larvae.
--Use insect repellents containing N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide, commonly known as DEET. Apply only as directed. Adults shouldn't use repellents with DEET concentrations higher than 50 percent. For children ages 2 through 12, use repellents with concentrations of 10 percent or less.
--Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks to avoid mosquito bites.
-- Stock fish in ponds. Many fish--even goldfish--eat mosquito larvae.
Small-scale insecticide spraying is ineffective, because mosquitoes can travel several miles on the wind.
"It is important for Missourians to be aware of this disease and to take reasonable precautions, such as using insect repellents and eliminating standing water around their homes," said Howard Pue, Public Health Veterinarian with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). "However, people should keep the risk of West Nile virus in perspective. This is just one of several insect- or tick-borne diseases--along with St. Louis encephalitis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever--that have been around for a number of years. We haven't let those stop us from attending little league baseball games, going on picnics, fishing or hunting. West Nile virus is no different, really."
A clinical investigation in New York City showed that 2.6 percent of the human population there was infected with West Nile virus following the 1999 transmission season. Another study showed that eight out of ten people who were infected with West Nile virus had no symptoms and suffered no ill effects.
In 2002 the DHSS recorded 168 cases of West Nile infection where people had symptoms. Of those, 50 had only West Nile fever, with flu-like symptoms. The other 118 developed the more serious West Nile encephalitis or meningitis. Seven human deaths were linked to West Nile virus infection in Missouri.
The risk of serious West Nile infection is higher for people over age 50. One case of West Nile virus transmission was identified between a pregnant mother and her unborn child, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Ga. In addition, it appears the virus can be transmitted through breast milk. The CDC recommends that pregnant women and nursing mothers take precautions to reduce their risk of West Nile virus infection. However, the CDC does not suggest a change in the American Academies of Pediatricians' and Family Physicians' breast-feeding recommendations. These recommendations are available at http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html.
Several companies are working to develop a vaccine against the disease. The disease does not spread from person to person.
The Consumer Specialty Products Association advises against combining insect repellents and sunscreen. Doing so reduces the effectiveness of both products. If you can't find a product with both sunscreen and repellent, apply insect repellent and take measures to reduce sun exposure.
In samples of Missouri wild birds, West Nile virus was found in four game species: mallard, mourning dove, wood duck and Canada goose. Although no cases of West Nile infection from game animals have been identified, the CDC has confirmed that two laboratory workers became infected last summer when their broken skin came into contact with infected animal tissues or blood. It urges hunters to follow the precautions they would use when handling any wild animal. This includes wearing gloves when handling and cleaning animals to prevent blood exposure to bare hands and ensuring that meat is cooked thoroughly.
More information about West Nile virus is available from the DHSS at http://www.dhss.state.mo.us/WestNileVirus/.
- Jim Low -
