|
Wet Weather = Mosquitoes & West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is a flavivirus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus found in the United States. The virus can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and some other mammals.
West Nile fever is a case of mild disease in people, characterized by flu-like symptoms. West Nile fever typically lasts only a few days and does not appear to cause any long-term health effects.
If the patient is elderly or an infant, or has an impaired immune system other diseases can occur: West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile meningoencephalitis. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord, and meningoencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain and the membrane surrounding it.
It is estimated that 20% of the people who become infected will develop West Nile fever: mild symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. The rest will not even know that they have been infected.
The symptoms of severe infection (West Nile encephalitis or meningitis) include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile Virus will develop a more severe form of disease. There have been numerous cases of severe illness related to the disease in El Paso County, some fatal.
The continued expansion of West Nile Virus in the United States indicates that it is permanently established in the Western Hemisphere. Also, depending upon the temperature, West Nile Virus can be transmitted year round. Health officials indicate that the West Nile Virus is here to stay in the West Texas/Southern New Mexico area.
It just takes one bite to infect a person. At that point it is up to their immune system to keep it at bay with only flu-like symptoms. There is no vaccine for the disease. However, there is a vaccine for the West Nile Equine Virus for horses but the effectiveness has not been fully evaluated.
It is important to prevent the transmission of the disease. Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. If you spray your clothing, there is no need to spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under your clothing. (A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection.)
When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors. Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants. Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito-biting times. Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
Help reduce the number of mosquitoes in areas outdoors where you work or play by draining sources of standing water. In this way, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
* At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
* Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
* Remove discarded tires and other items that could collect water.
* Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
Vitamin B and "ultrasonic" devices are NOT effective in preventing mosquito bites.
(Photos: Brax - Valley Publishing Company)
Send feedback to:
Editor, Upper Valley Beacon
Copyright © 2004-2006 Valley Publishing Company:
All Rights Reserved.
| 
