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Second Human West Nile Case Confirmed In Escambia County
August 18, 2012
The second human case of the West Nile virus was confirmed Friday in Escambia County, days after health officials issued a “Mosquito Borne Illness Advisory” for the entire county.
The reported case means “there is an imminent risk of additional persons becoming infected,” according to the Escambia County Health Department. The health department has not said where in the county either infected person resides.
“A second human case of West Nile Virus underscores the very high risk of additional persons becoming infected with the virus. As school starts, and evening outdoor sporting events resume, it is especially important to make every effort to protect yourself and those you love from mosquito bites,” said Dr. Susan Turner, associate director for the Escambia County Health Department.
Escambia County on Friday issued the following tips:
- Remove standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
- Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
- Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
- Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
- Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
- Cover skin with clothing or repellent—
- Stay indoors when mosquitoes are active
- Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
- Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET(N,N-diethyl-mtoluamide), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
- Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
- Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house
- Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
- Keep doors and windows closed if screens are not present.
- Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent.
- Some repellents are not suitable for children.
- Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended.
- Other US Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents contain Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. These products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look for active ingredients to be listed on the product label.
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
- In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is age-appropriate.
- According to the CDC, mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. DEET is not recommended on children younger than two months old.
- Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child’s skin and clothing.
- If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing.
Comments
14 Responses to “Second Human West Nile Case Confirmed In Escambia County”
Re: “you people are freaking out JUST over West Nile Virus”
YES, I freak out about west Nile …..my husband almost died from it around 10 years ago, he was in a comma for 2 weeks! Yes the eastern equine is scary too but I believe as a member of escambia county it is our rights as tax payers to be informed of the locations of the confirmed cases. Maybe some people would think oh it’s 20 miles away so I don’t have to worry but the majority of people DO NOT think like that! I for one take mosquitos EXTREMELY serious. You watch your family member go through what my husband has gone through and to still have it effect his everyday life…..may God bless you and your family, I pray you don’t have to learn first hand about us people who are freaking out!!!
Jc, the symptoms are the same as the flu to begin with. fever, aches, headache and congestion. Depending on the bodys ability to fight it off, the person can develop pneumonia and encephilitis. There is no cure for it. I ran a fever of 103º for 3 1/2 months. I was treated with different antibiotics and given antiviral drugs, but just had to wait until it ran it’s course. Some people with it are not as lucky as I was.
What are the symptoms?
I think some of you are looking at too small of a picture, wanting to know where these cases are located. Take a look at these maps –
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/Mapsactivity/surv&control12MapsAnybyCounty.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/Mapsincidence/surv&control12IncidbyCounty.htm
At time of posting the data doesn’t include the Escambia County cases, but regionally there’s some activity around here.
Back when they used “real fog” in those trucks it killed a lot of non-target insects such as honey bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. The first thing I did when I heard about the wnv being here is go give my property a good looking over for things holding water. I was surprised how many flower pot drip trays had wiggleys in them. I also had some old tires with them. I also warned my neighbors.
Help the county out and build a bat box. Bats eat approx 1000 skeeters an hour. Very simple to make. Its pretty neat to watch the evening bats . I have a retention pond in my back yard so the bats are in heaven with the free feeding .
Without giving a general area of the county where this was found, this report is a total and complete waste of time and money. As for the tips, they are general tips that apply year round in this area. If the health department won’t tell the general area where these cases are, then there is no need to know if there is 2 cases or 20 cases of West Nile virus in the county.
Why do you people care where it happened? Mosquitoes carry tons of viruses. You people are freaking out just over West Nile Virus. People also became I’ll with Eastern Equine Encephalitis, which actually carries a mortality rate around 35% on healthy adults and there is no cure. So it doesn’t matter where these two cases occurred. You should be caution of all mosquitoes. Let me guess, if you find out it’s not in your neighborhood then are you going to stop taking precautions? It doesn’t matter if it happened in your neighborhood or 20 miles away, take precautions anyway and you don’t have to worry.
I know in Molino the mosquitos are horrible I live on hwy 196 and it doesn’t matter what time of day it is, you walk outside and you are attacked. The county REALLY needs to give this area a double dose of spray. I have a niece and grandbaby that are here most days and they can’t play outside, they tried to get in the sprinkler two weeks ago they played all of two minutes and my nieces back was attacked she had 10 bites on it.
Even IF they ride around in their truck ’spraying’ for mosquitos, they’re not allowed to put out enough spray anymore to even be effective. Just a waste of gas. Back in the day when the ‘fog trucks’ came around every summer, you KNEW it! That was when they literally fogged up the whole street as they went by. Now it just looks like they have a little exhaust coming from the top of their truck.
Way past time for the county to start spraying for misquitos and try to at least limit some of the misquitos before this becomes an epidemic. They are so bad that even with long sleeves/pants and bug spray they still bite through your clothes or bite your face! And it doesn’t matter what time of day it is…the misquitos are out!
After reading about our local cases and seeing the national news about cases in Dallas, I’m growing more concerned. I wish the Health Dept would give us a general area of the county. I worry about my grandkids.
>>>Can they tell us WHERE in Escambia county? Pensacola, Ensley, Beulah, Cantonment, McDavid, Century. ……
No…they health department won’t release that information.
Can they tell us WHERE in Escambia county? Pensacola, Ensley, Beulah, Cantonment, McDavid, Century. …….