Date: August 28, 2008
Contact: Laura Bauman, Epidemiologist, Washtenaw County Public Health Department
E-mail: baumanl@ewashtenaw.org
Phone: (734) 544-6763
TWO ANN ARBOR BIRDS TEST POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
Public Urged to Prevent Mosquito Bites and Use West Nile Virus
Hotline
to Report Dead Crows, Ravens or Blue Jays
YPSILANTI, Mich., August 28, 2008—Washtenaw County Public Health Department officials today announced that two birds found dead in Ann Arbor, in the 48104 and 48103 zip codes, have tested positive for West Nile virus. These are the first positive birds identified in Washtenaw County for the 2008 West Nile season. County residents are urged to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites and to call the Washtenaw County West Nile Virus Hotline at (734) 544-6750 to report dead birds or to receive general West Nile virus information.
Although there have been no confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in the Washtenaw County to date, the two positive birds indicate that some local mosquitoes are infected with the virus and pose a health risk to the general public. Hot, dry weather conditions are favorable for amplifying the virus cycle in birds and mosquitoes, particularly in urban and suburban areas. In Michigan, August and September are the months of greatest risk to humans for becoming infected with the West Nile virus.
“Fortunately, we have not traditionally experienced a large number of human cases of West Nile in Washtenaw County. However, all of the cases in previous years were exposed close to the Labor Day weekend,” said Dr. Diana Torres-Burgos, Washtenaw County Medical Director. “Individuals should be particularly vigilant right now in preventing mosquito bites to themselves and their families.”
Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile virus when they feed on infected birds that carry the virus in their blood. People are primarily exposed to West Nile from the bite of a mosquito that is infected with the virus. The presence of dead crows, blue jays, and ravens is a sensitive indicator for the presence of the West Nile virus.
Nationally, 342 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in 2008 to date, with three deaths. Michigan has had one case reported in Lenawee County.
Most people infected with West Nile virus do not have any symptoms of illness, but one in four will become ill 3-15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. In a few cases, mostly among persons 75 years and older, death may occur. Mild illness from West Nile can include these symptoms: Slight fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes a skin rash and swollen glands. Serious illness from West Nile can include these symptoms: high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, mental confusion, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Recent research on West Nile survivors in Texas suggests that over 40% of people with severe disease never fully recover.
Dead Bird Surveillance
The Washtenaw County Public Health Department asks citizens to report all dead birds to the Washtenaw County West Nile Virus Hotline at (734) 544-6750. If a crow, raven, or blue jay has been dead for less than 48 hours and/or shows no signs of advanced decomposition, it may be collected for testing. Once a zip code has produced a positive test result, no more birds will be accepted from that zip code. Residents, however, should continue to report any dead birds they see. Dead bird reports are entered into a mapping database to predict the level of virus activity in a particular geographic area.
Personal Protection and Prevention
Since West Nile virus is spread to humans almost exclusively through the bite of an infected mosquito, it is important for individuals to prevent mosquito bites through the following prevention activities:
- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk).
- Wear light colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants, if possible.
- Apply insect repellant that contains the active ingredient DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin or clothing. Always following the manufacturer’s directions for use. DEET repellant can be used on children 2 months of age and older.
- Avoid applying repellant to the hands of young children who may then transfer the repellant to their eyes and mouth, which has the potential of producing irritation or adverse health effects.
- Take care when opening doors so that mosquitoes don’t “hitch a ride” into the house on you, your children, or your pets.
- Maintain window and door screening to help keep mosquitoes out of homes and other buildings.
- Empty standing water from buckets, flowerpots, saucers, pools, patio furniture covers, and other similar sites where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
- Remove wet, organic material from your gutters and from low-lying areas in your yard.
- Keep tall weeds trimmed back from areas where you or your children spend time outdoors.
More information about the West Nile virus is available on the following county, state, and national websites:
