West Nile Virus Detected In Escambia Alabama

July 23, 2009

West Nile virus has been detected in Escambia County, Alabama.

The Escambia County Health Department announced that a sentinel chicken from the Riverview area has tested positive for West Nile virus. Ongoing public health surveillance has detected no mosquito-borne virus activity in humans in Escambia County this year.

“With summer in full swing and many people enjoying outdoor activities, it is important that residents make efforts to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes,” said Escambia County Health Department Environmentalist Josh Coleman. “Keep your mosquito repellent with you at all times when you are working or recreating outdoors.”

West Nile virus, EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses are transmitted from bird to mosquito to bird. Occasionally, the same mosquitoes will take blood from mammals, including humans and horses. Humans and horses can sometimes become ill from the infection. The likelihood of transmission to humans and horses can be decreased by personal mosquito avoidance and the use of West Nile and EEE vaccine in horses. There is no vaccine available for humans, health officials said.

Escambia County Health Department established a mosquito control program in 2008 that includes surveillance activities such as mosquito trapping and sentinel chicken surveillance.

These activities are conducted to monitor for mosquito-borne diseases and track mosquito populations. Serum samples are taken each week from the six sentinel chicken flocks and tested for the presence of West Nile, EEE and St. Louis Encephalitis.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News