PA State Officials Remind Public Of Precautions For West Nile Virus
Equestrian News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- PA Health Secretary Dr. Calvin B. Johnson, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty and Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today reminded Pennsylvanians that it's the time of the year to start taking precautions against West Nile virus (WNV) and noted that efforts have already started to detect and control mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus. The three agencies are part of a multi-agency effort to help control WNV in Pennsylvania.
"With the recent warm weather, it's time for everyone to start thinking about West Nile virus," Dr. Johnson said. "People can protect themselves against West Nile virus by using insect repellant when they know that they will be in an area that could expose them to mosquito bites."
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is coordinating the county-based mosquito surveillance and control portion of the multi-agency West Nile virus effort. DEP recently announced grants to counties to control mosquitoes that carry the virus.
"DEP and its county partners have been working hard on an aggressive mosquito surveillance and control program to help us contain the virus in Pennsylvania," McGinty said. "Our experience is helping us target resources and ensure our field programs are even more effective. Residents still play an important role, too. People should continue to look for standing pools and puddles on their properties and remember: 'Dump it. Drain it. Treat it.' Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so get rid of standing water or treat it as soon as possible."
If standing water cannot be removed, products that kill mosquito larvae are available at many lawn and garden, home improvement, hardware, and other retail stores. DEP and county staff use environmentally sensitive materials to control the mosquito population. To kill larvae, the predominant method of mosquito control, Bti and Bsph are used. These naturally occurring bacteria attack the digestive system of the mosquito larvae and have no effect on people, animals, plants or other insects. The other control product is an insect hormone, methoprene, which prevents mosquito larvae from developing into adults.
DEP and county coordinators use equipment called light traps, gravid traps and dippers to collect mosquitoes for surveillance purposes. During surveillance activities, officials search for immature (larvae and pupae) and adult mosquitoes. Once found, the mosquito species is identified and evaluated for WNV probability, population and geographic distribution. When large numbers of mosquitoes known to carry WNV are detected, they are controlled using a naturally occurring bacteria or mosquito growth hormone. Both these methods are harmless to humans and aquatic life. The Departments of Health and Agriculture also perform laboratory testing to determine if the virus is present in mosquitoes, animals and humans.
"West Nile virus is a major concern for the agriculture community," Secretary Wolff said. "As the warm weather approaches, like all homeowners, farmers and other animal owners should eliminate all standing water from their properties and identify potential on-farm problem areas."
Wolff said that horses are especially susceptible to illness from WNV, and equine owners should consult their veterinarian about the two vaccines available. Pet owners can also talk to their veterinarian about repellants safe for domestic pets.
As part of the state's WNV program, citizens are asked to report dead bird sightings so that officials can identify potential areas for enhanced surveillance. Pennsylvanians can report dead birds on-line at http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/ or by calling 1-877-PA-HEALTH. The West Nile Surveillance Program will collect up to five dead birds a week per county throughout the entire WNV season. Citizens can call 1-877-PA-HEALTH to find out if the dead bird they have sighted is appropriate for testing. If a bird is chosen for testing, citizens will be asked to deliver the bird to a centralized collection site.
Pennsylvanians can take a few simple steps around their homes to reduce the risk of WNV. Since mosquitoes breed in standing water, even a small bucket containing standing water for only four days can become home to many mosquitoes.
Tips to eliminate standing water include:
-- Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-
holding containers that have accumulated on your property. Do not
overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
-- Pay special attention to discarded tires on your property.
-- Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left
outdoors. Drainage holes that are located on a container's sides allow
them to collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed.
-- Clean roof gutters on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from
surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters
are easily overlooked and can produce millions of mosquitoes each
season.
-- Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a
mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis.
-- Turn over wheelbarrows, and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths
for more than four days. Both provide a breeding habitat for domestic
mosquitoes.
-- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are
fashionable, but become major mosquito producers if they are allowed
to stagnate.
-- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. Be aware
that mosquitoes may even breed in water that collects on swimming pool
covers.
-- Landscaping can eliminate standing water on your property. Mosquitoes
will develop in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.
In people, WNV most often causes mild infections. In rare instances, the virus can cause West Nile encephalitis, an infection that causes an inflammation of the brain and sometimes death. While anyone can contract WNV, adults over 50 years of age are at increased risk of developing severe illness. In addition to transmission through the bite of an infected mosquito, WNV can be transmitted through organ donation, blood transfusion, occupationally, and may be transmitted from mother to child (breastfeeding and transplacental). However, only a small proportion of WNV cases are transmitted in ways other than the bite of an infected mosquito.
WNV cases occur primarily in the late summer or early fall, although mosquito season is usually April through October. In 2004, WNV was identified in 46 birds, 163 mosquito pools, 9 horses, 37 sentinel chickens and 16 people, with two human deaths.
A website providing background information and regular updates about the WNV is available at http://www.state.pa.us/, PA Keyword: "DEP West Nile" or at http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/. Visitors to the website can sign up to automatically receive news releases and other updates via e-mail.
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