Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Date: June 17, 2008

Release Date: For Immediate Release

End Date: September 30, 2008

Contact Person: Rod McNeill
Environmental Sanitarian
Genesee County Health Department

Phone: (810) 257-3603

RE: West Nile Virus

The best way to prevent infection with West Nile Virus is to control mosquito populations. Mosquito larvae or "wrigglers" must live in still water for five or more days to complete their growth before changing into adult biting mosquitoes capable of transmitting disease. Often, the number of mosquitoes in an area can be reduced by removing sources of standing water around residences. For example, hundreds of mosquitoes can come from a single discarded tire. The Genesee County Health Department urges you to prevent mosquito production around residences and prevent mosquito bites:

• Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles or any water-holding containers.

• Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts, etc.) in the yard. The draining and filling of wetlands for mosquito control is not an acceptable approach.

• Keep drains, ditches, and culverts free of weeds and trash so water will drain properly.

• Keep roof gutters free of leaves and other debris.

• Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.

• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.

• Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store indoors when not in use.

• Unused swimming pools should be drained and kept dry during the mosquito season.

• Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water.

• Change the water in birdbaths and plant pots or drip trays at least once each week.

• Store boats covered or upside down, or remove rainwater weekly.

• Keep grass cut and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there.

• Make sure ornamental ponds have fish, which will eat mosquito larvae.

• Repair window screens.

• When outdoors in the evening or when mosquitoes are biting, use personal protection measures to prevent mosquito bites (proper use of insect repellent and appropriate clothing.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and/or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Outbreaks of the disease caused by WNV have occurred in Egypt, Asia, Israel, South Africa and some parts of Europe and Australia. The virus was first seen in the US in the fall of 1999 in New York City, and has since spread across the US to the Pacific Ocean, into several Canadian Provinces and possibly into Mexico. WNV was first detected in Michigan in 2001 and has been detected in Michigan each year since 2001.

WNV primarily infects and multiplies in birds, which serve as reservoirs for the virus. The virus is spread between birds mostly through the bite of an infected mosquito. It has been detected in more that 162 species of birds, however corvids (crows and blue jays) are more severely affected than other species of birds and often die as a result of their infection. When the level of virus circulating amongst birds and mosquitoes becomes high, horses and humans can be accidentally infected. The virus also has been shown to infect several other types of mammals (including bats, cats, chipmunks, squirrels, skunks, and domestic rabbits) usually without causing clinical signs.

For more information call the Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3603 or visit us on the web at www.gchd.us.
 

###