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07/06/2005: "Were Not Special Anymore: West Nile Virus In Human?"

San Juan County Health Department has reported the State is performing lab tests to confirm if a suspected case of WNV (West Nile Virus) has been found in Spokane. If the virus is confirmed, Washington will join the rest of the lower 48 states has having the WNV present. Last year the virus entered the state, but there have been no human cases, until possibly now. (See former story: No Human Cases -Yet

The WNV is not the plague. It has been estimated that even if one has been infected with the virus, only one hundred and fifty of those infected will have severe West Nile Virus symptoms. As is so often the case, the elderly, and anyone with a compromised immune system, are most the susceptible. Dr Frank James, Health Officer for San Juan County is urging San Juan residents not to take chances and to protect themselves from WNV exposure by preventing mosquito bites. "The likelihood of cases in our area will be higher this year and I strongly encourage residents of the San Juans to take responsibility for reducing mosquito habitat around their homes and taking personal protective measures such as wearing long sleeve clothing and mosquito repellants at dusk and dawn. These actions will reduce the risk of being bitten and the risk for West Nile Virus infection."

San Juan County Health and Community Services recommends that local residents take the following actions to protect against mosquitoes:

Eliminate Sources of Standing Water:
• Regularly empty anything that holds standing water including discarded tires, buckets, wheelbarrows, plastic covers, tarps, toys and plant saucers.
• Clean rain gutters and make sure they drain properly. Rain gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each year.
• Empty bird baths, wading pools and animal troughs at least once a week.
• Dispose of plastic containers, ceramic pots, tin cans, discarded tires and other water-holding containers. Don't forget containers that have become overgrown with vegetation.
• Drill holes in the bottom of all containers that are left outside, such as recycling bins and plant saucers.
• Ensure water doesn't collect in cans or bottles that are waiting to be recycled.
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• Aerate ornamental pools and water features. Mosquitoes will not lay eggs in moving water.
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Drain or fill in low-lying areas.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. Make sure water doesn't collect on pool covers.

Protect yourself and Your Family from Mosquito Bites:
• Make sure window and door screens fit tightly and are in good condition.
• Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes when in mosquito-infested areas such as woods or wetlands.
• Use insect repellent containing DEET sparingly and follow the instructions on the label carefully, especially for children.

specific types of dead birds, can be an indicator of the presence of West Nile virus. For more information on habitat reduction (of mosquitoes -not birds) call Mark Tompkins, Environmental Health Manager at 378-4474. For information on human illness and West Nile Virus call Dr James at 360-201-2505.