• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Mosquitoes Test Positive for West Nile Virus; Health Officials Remind Residents to Take Precautions

Posted on: Thursday, 4 August 2005, 18:01 CDT

Milwaukee health officials are urging residents to take precaution after two pools of mosquitoes tested positive for the West Nile virus this week.

Samples taken from a south side and west side location on July 19 confirmed that the virus is in the area.

However, no cases of the virus-related illness have been found in humans this year, health officials say.

The mosquitoes are the first to test positive in the state this year, though six birds have been confirmed to have the virus this year.

"We've had mild years for West Nile, and we need to remind the community that prevention needs to be continued," said Bevan Baker, Milwaukee's health commissioner.

Health officials are urging residents to take several measures to help prevent infection, including wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, particularly around dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.

In addition, people are advised to use insect repellent containing DEET and to remove any outdoor objects that may hold stagnant water, which mosquitoes need to hatch, such as old tires, birdbaths and swimming pool covers. A home's window screens also should be in good repair to keep mosquitoes out.

Patricia Fox, Wisconsin's West Nile virus coordinator, said the state typically sees mosquitoes test positive during July and August. However, each year more birds are confirmed with the virus.

For example, 121 birds tested positive last year as did some mosquitoes in four pools, she said.

"The reason why we continue to do both bird and mosquito pools is because they tell us information," she said. "And right now, we still need all the information we can get."

The Milwaukee Health Department has about 20 mosquito traps located throughout the city that are tested each week for the virus, said Dave Campbell, a disease control and environmental specialist with the Health Department.

Those traps are located near parks, schools and assisted living centers, Baker said, though the exact locations can't be disclosed for fear of tampering.

In addition, the city began placing packets of larvicide in catch basins to help control mosquitoes in mid-June, Campbell said.

So far, that effort is about 80% complete, with more than 10,000 packets distributed. Each packet lasts 150 days.

West Nile is primarily a bird disease that spreads to humans when a mosquito bites an infected bird, becomes infected itself, and then bites people.

Most people get no symptoms or only mild, flu-like symptoms from West Nile. But a small percentage develop encephalitis or meningitis inflammation around the brain or of the spinal cord and about 10% of those people die.

As with most infectious diseases, seniors and people with other health problems are more likely to die from West Nile than younger or otherwise healthy people.

The West Nile virus first appeared in the United States in 1999. The virus was first detected in Wisconsin in late summer 2001, when dead birds with it were found.

Copyright 2005, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

More News in this Category