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For immediate release: April 14, 2005 (05-036)
Contacts: Donn Moyer,
Communications Office 360-236-4076
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077
Spring approaches, bringing mosquito season and West Nile virus concerns
OLYMPIA ¾ The coming of spring has Washington residents thinking of gardening, hiking and other outdoor fun. It’s also time to think about preventing West Nile virus infection. The Washington State Department of Health says there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself against mosquito-borne illness.
"We looked hard last year and tested a lot of mosquitoes, dead birds — even people — and we found no evidence of West Nile virus in our state," said Maryanne Guichard, director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. "The disease moved into Oregon and Idaho in 2004, so it seems likely that we may be next."
West Nile virus has been moving west since 1999 and, though it wasn’t detected in our state last year, it was confirmed in two horses and some dead birds in Washington in 2002. That year, two dead birds tested positive — one each in Pend Oreille and Snohomish Counties. Follow-up analysis by a federal lab trying a new test later identified two other West Nile virus positive dead birds from 2002. One had been collected from Pierce County, the other from Thurston County. No human cases have been acquired in our state.
West Nile virus is primarily a bird disease. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on infected birds, and then pass the virus to other birds, humans, or horses.
The best defense is to avoid mosquito bites. Emptying water from old buckets, cans, and tires and frequently changing water in birdbaths and water troughs helps eliminate the small puddles of water where many mosquito species breed. Avoid being bitten by staying indoors around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; making sure door and window screens are working properly; and using a mosquito repellent containing DEET or other effective ingredients if going outdoors when mosquitoes are active.
Most people bitten by a West Nile virus-infected mosquito won’t show signs of illness. Some may develop mild flu-like symptoms that go away without treatment. In a small number of cases the virus can cause serious illness. People over age 50 have the highest risk for serious illness.
With the help of local health departments around the state, the Department of Health plans to resume environmental monitoring — including dead bird testing — in mid-spring. The agency’s West Nile virus information line 1-866-78-VIRUS (1-866-788-4787) is activated and the Department of Health West Nile virus Web site (www.doh.wa.gov/WNV) has more details.
The Department of Health is working with local health departments and other state agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Ecology, and Fish and Wildlife on West Nile virus monitoring, planning, control and prevention.
More information about West Nile virus in Pierce County (www.tpchd.org/wnv) is available on the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Web site.
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