West Nile Case Confirmed

September 26, 2008

A confirmed case of West Nile virus has been diagnosed in Escambia County, Alabama,  Alabama’s Department of Public Health said Thursday. Two cases of the virus had previously been reported in Escambia County, Florida.

That, health officials say, means that residents in North Escambia should be especially careful not to be bit by mosquitoes that could be carrying the virus.

The Escambia County (FL) Health Department says everyone in North Escambia and surrounding areas should follow the “5 D’s of prevention”.

The 5 D’s of Prevention
• Dusk and Dawn: Do not go outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking blood during the
twilight hours of dusk and at dawn.
• Dress: Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.
• DEET: When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes, repellents containing
DEET are recommended. Check labels before using a product on infants and children. If
an infant is too young to wear repellent and must be outdoors, a parent should place
mosquito netting over the infant’s carrier. Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are other
repellent options for individuals who cannot wear DEET.
• Drainage: Check around your home to rid the area of standing water, which is where
mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Elimination of breeding sites is one of the keys to
prevention.
• Screens: Make sure window and door screens are in good condition, without any tears
or holes that allow mosquitoes to enter your home. Place screens on open windows.
Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites
• Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters.
• Remove old tires or drill holes in those used in playgrounds to drain.
• Turn over or remove empty plastic pots.
• Pick up all beverage containers and cups.
• Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water.
• Pump out bilges on boats.
• Replace water in birdbaths and pet or other animal feeding dishes at least once a week.
• Change water in plant trays, including hanging plants, at least once a week.
• Remove vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.
What is West Nile Virus?
• West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness – about one in 150 people infected with
WNV will develop severe illness.
• The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor,
disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness
and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may
be permanent.
• Mild Symptoms in Some: Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have
symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes
swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last
for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several
weeks.
• No Symptoms in Most People: Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5)
who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News