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For immediate release: December 2, 2005 (05-159)
NOTE: THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REVISED TO CORRECT A FACTUAL ERROR
Contacts:
Donn Moyer,
Communications Office 360-236-4076
Tim Church, Communications Office
360-236-4077
West Nile virus environmental monitoring ends for 2005
OLYMPIA ¾ Mosquito activity in Washington has declined with the arrival of colder weather. So, the Washington State Department of Health is suspending lab tests of dead birds and other environmental monitoring for West Nile virus until spring of 2006 when warmer weather returns. Though no human West Nile illness was acquired in our state in 2005, environmental monitoring detected some evidence that the virus is moving into Washington.
“Our monitoring program helps us quickly inform the public about the migration of West Nile virus,” said Maryanne Guichard, director of Environmental Health and Safety. “Monitoring detected West Nile virus in a dead bird, a horse and two mosquito pools this season; it’s important that people are notified so they can take the simple steps that can help prevent mosquito bites.”
Local and state health agencies and mosquito control districts work with laboratories to monitor for West Nile virus in horses, sentinel chickens, mosquitoes and dead birds. In 2005, 660 dead birds, 52 horses and 576 samples from sentinel chicken flocks were tested. Mosquitoes trapped for identification were grouped into pools for testing; about 915 mosquito pools were tested. The tests detected one West Nile virus-positive dead bird (a magpie); one horse with a locally acquired WNV infection; and two WNV positive mosquito pools. All of the positive test results were from Yakima County. Benton County also reported a closely related mosquito-borne virus — St. Louis encephalitis virus — in one sentinel chicken.
West Nile virus is spread to birds, horses and humans by infected mosquitoes. Most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito do not show signs of illness. The virus can occasionally cause severe illness; the most severe illnesses include high fever and inflammation of the brain. The risk of serious illness and death from infection is highest in people over age 50.
The best way to reduce the chances of West Nile infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Personal protective measures include wearing long sleeves and full-length pants in the outdoors when mosquitoes are active and using effective bug repellants. Eliminating potential mosquito breeding habitat around the home such as containers that may catch and hold water is an important precaution. Emptying or removing such containers is essential even in winter, because mosquito larvae may survive the cold winter months and hatch in the spring.
More information on West Nile virus (www.doh.wa.gov/WNV) is available on the Department of Health Web site or on the Department of Health toll-free phone line, 1-866-78VIRUS.
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