West Nile Virus in Spanish Fort

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By the Baldwin County Health Department

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr West Nile Virus in Spanish Fort

Published: Fri, September 28, 2007 - 10:54 am
Last Updated: Friday, September 28, 2007 - 11:05 am

Beware of mosquitoes in Baldwin County. Mosquitoes carry diseases that can be deadly, and there is no vaccine for humans. These viruses likely are circulating in all parts of the county.

“If you go outside in the cooler fall evenings, be sure to use mosquito repellent,” said Baldwin County Health Department Senior Environmentalist Rachel Beck. “People at work and at sporting events should take all precautions to prevent mosquito bites.”

The Baldwin County Health Department warns county residents that a sentinel chicken from the Spanish Fort area recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV).

Ms. Beck added, “Keep your mosquito repellent with you at all times when you are working or playing outdoors. The Baldwin County Health Department has free larvicide that you can put in low-lying areas and ornamental ponds.”

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), WNV and other mosquito-borne viruses are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Sometimes, the same mosquitoes will take blood from humans and horses. Humans and horses can become ill from the infection. People should avoid mosquitoes and use repellents. Horse owners should vaccinate their horses for EEE and WNV.

Health officials suggest these ways to protect yourself and your family:

CLOTHING
o Wear loose- fitting, light-colored clothes. Mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors.
o Wear long sleeves and long pants.
AROMATICS
o Don’t use perfumes, colognes, fragrant hair sprays, lotions and soaps. They attract mosquitoes.
REPELLENTS
o Follow the instructions when applying repellents. Permethrin repellents are only for clothes – don’t put them on the skin.
o Don’t put them on the eyes, lips and nasal membranes.
o If using DEET –containing products on children, make sure it is less than 10 percent.
o Put DEET repellent on arms, legs and other exposed areas but never under clothing.
o After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
AROUND THE HOME
o Mosquito activities peak at dusk and again at dawn. Try not to go outdoors during these hours.
o Keep windows and door screens in good condition.
o Replace porch lights with yellow light bulbs that will attract fewer insects.
o Mosquitoes breed in standing water; so empty all water from old tires, cans, jars, buckets, drums, plastic wading pools, toys, and other containers.
o Clean clogged gutters.
o Remove the rim from potted plants and replace water in plant/flower vases once a week
o Replenish pet watering dishes each day and rinse bird baths twice a week
o Fill tree holes left by fallen trees with dirt or sand.
o Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito fish or use larvicide “doughnuts.”

A Baldwin County resident was also diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in September. Earlier this summer EEE was detected in sentinel chickens, first in June in the Orange Beach area and then in July in the Lillian area.

In September four other sentinel chickens (from the Loxley, Silverhill, Robertsdale and Foley areas) tested positive for West Nile virus.

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