West Nile Virus Preparations for 2006
June 7, 2006, DENVER—Officials from the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment advised individuals to take precautions
against West Nile virus by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds in
their back yards and by wearing insect repellent and using other
methods to avoid mosquito bites when outdoors.
John Pape, an epidemiologist who specializes in animal-related
diseases at the department, explained “Although we can’t yet predict
how severe the West Nile virus season will be this year, we do know
that we will see virus activity statewide. West Nile virus is here to
stay.”
Recent reports of a human case in Weld County and two blood donors
with preliminary positive tests indicate that low-level virus
transmission may be occurring. Pape explained that the donor cases may
represent transmission from infected female mosquitoes that recently
emerged from hibernation. All blood donations now are being screened
for the presence of West Nile virus. If positive, the blood is
destroyed. The two blood donors remain well. Additional testing is
being conducted to confirm these infections.
Pape explained that West Nile Virus is carried by certain birds and is
transmitted to people by bites from mosquitoes that have fed on
infected birds. Female Culex mosquitoes, the species that carries the
virus, usually start emerging in late April or early May.
Pape said, “Each season this virus will be present and circulating
around the state. The severity of the season will depend on the
weather.”
Studies show that cool, wet weather in early spring followed by very
hot temperatures throughout the summer could result in a bad year, he
explained.
He said, “The good news is that West Nile virus is preventable, and
now is the time to take precautions against the disease.”
Pape said that individuals can get a jump-start on reducing mosquitoes
by cleaning out gutters and other places around their homes where
there are pools of water that are good breeding places for mosquitoes.
Such breeding grounds include empty flowerpots, plastic swimming pools
or old tires.
“If you have a birdbath, remember to change the water at least weekly.
This also is a good time to repair torn window and door screens,” he
said.
Additional precautions to take against West Nile virus include:
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Avoid outdoor activities, such as gardening, at dusk
and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
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If outside at dawn or dusk, cover up by wearing
light, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks.
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Use approved mosquito repellents containing
DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon
eucalyptus. DEET products generally provide the longest protection
times. The other repellents do work but may need to be applied more
frequently. Follow the product label for correct use. Products with
10 percent or less DEET are recommended for children.
Pape explained that state and local public health
officials initiated West Nile virus surveillance in birds and
mosquitoes on May 1. To date, no positive birds or mosquitoes have
been found. Mosquito collections show that the numbers of Culex
mosquitoes still are very low, but growing.
Pape added, “An established system for reporting sick,
dying or dead birds that might be infected with West Nile virus has
been continued this year. It was expanded to include information on
Avian flu, another virus found in birds, so that dead bird calls for
either disease can be handled efficiently. Persons in the state who
find dead wild birds or would like to report sick or dying birds in
their poultry flocks should call the Colorado Emergency Line for the
Public (or CoHELP) at 1-877-462-2911.”
The emergency line staff is available to respond to
hotline calls from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and
from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to
taking dead bird reports, staff can answer most questions on West Nile
virus.
The hotline is operated by the Rocky Mountain Poison
and Drug Control Center and is under contract to the Department of
Public Health and Environment’s Emergency Preparedness and Response
Program.
Pape said the hotline handled an onslaught of calls
during 2003 when Colorado was particularly hard hit by West Nile virus
and by human flu.
In 2005, Colorado had 106 West Nile virus cases in
humans. A total of 291 human cases of West Nile virus, including four
deaths, were reported in Colorado in 2004. This represented a sharp
downturn from the first full season of West Nile virus in Colorado in
2003, when there were 2,947 confirmed human cases of the disease and
63 deaths.
Previous Years' Mosquito Activity:
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