risk from mosquito bites will probably
continue until a good freeze in late fall kills mosquitoes. Because
WNV is widespread, the Alabama Department of Public Health has
issued a public health alert for all Alabama counties."
Lovell is coordinating surveillance of the disease
in mosquitoes and birds in Alabama on behalf of ADPH.
The most recent person stricken with the disease is
from Marengo County. The first confirmed WNV infection was in July
in a 71-year-old Dale County resident.
Lovell says the disease has been identified in 52 of
Alabama's 67 counties this year. Currently, 364 birds, slightly less
than 50 percent of all those tested, have tested positive for WNV
thus far.
This far exceeds the level of virus activity
reported in 2001, when 59 positive birds in 13 counties were
detected, and none earlier than the end of August.
In 2001, Alabama experienced two human cases of West
Nile virus infection, including one fatal case.
All residents should limit their exposure to
mosquitoes, says one ADPH doctor.
"This should serve as a motivator to use
precautions to avoid mosquito bites," says
Dr. Charles Woernle, assistant state health officer
for disease control and prevention.
"It may be a difficult behavior change for
some," says Woernle. "People just are not in the habit of
protecting themselves against mosquito bites around their homes. In
many people's minds, it is something you do when you go camping or
go to the beach."
Woernle stresses that it is important to reduce
mosquito bites by limiting exposure to the insects as well as using
insect repellents.
WNV can infect humans, horses and wildlife. In
people, it can cause West Nile encephalitis, a potentially deadly
inflammation of the brain. However, some people who are infected may
never know it, and others may only experience mild flulike symptoms
or headaches. As with many diseases, the elderly and those
individuals with compromised immune systems appear to be at the
greatest risk.
WNV and other mosquito-borne viruses such as Eastern
equine encephalitis are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird.
Occasionally, the same mosquitoes will take blood from mammals,
including humans and horses. Mosquitoes pick up the virus by feeding
on the blood of infected birds. The disease cannot be spread from
person to person or from animals to people.
Xing Ping Hu, an entomologist with the Alabama
Cooperative Extension System, says the most effective mosquito
repellents contain the active ingredient, DEET.
"DEET's most significant benefit is its ability
to repel potentially disease-carrying insects and ticks," says
Hu. "But it is extremely important that people use the product
as directed on the label."
She offers the following guidelines for safe,
effective use of DEET-containing insect repellents.
-
Read and follow all directions and precautions
on the product label.
-
Do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated
skin.
-
Do not apply to hands or near eyes and mouth of
young children.
-
Do not allow young children to apply this
product.
-
Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin
and/or clothing.
-
Do not use under clothing.
-
Avoid overapplication of this product.
-
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with
soap and water.
-
Wash treated clothing before wearing it again.
-
Do not spray in enclosed areas.
-
To apply to face, spray on hands first and then
rub on face. Do not spray directly onto face.
Woernle adds that repellents containing
concentrations no higher than 10 percent DEET should be used on
children.
