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West Nile Virus in Claremont… Is It “Bugging” You?
By Tisza Major-Posner | May 24, 2007
Hi All,
Last Thursday I attended an Active Claremont meeting and learned more about the West Nile Virus than I had ever known before. The speaker, Kelly Middleton, Public Information Officer for the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, shared information that was so important that I wanted to make sure that it got far beyond the walls of the meeting room.
Most of the information that I am presenting below was distilled from publications distributed by Kelly at the Active Claremont meeting. I also sent this article to her for review prior to publishing it here. Information about a topic this important is not worth anything if it is not accurate. I am grateful to Kelly for her willingness to review my article.
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is closely related to St. Louis encephalitis. It is a blood-born illness that can spread very rapidly by infected mosquitoes.
West Nile Virus is not species specific. That means a bird, squirrel or other host that has the illness, if bitten by a female mosquito (they are the only ones that bite), could pass the illness along through that mosquito to a human being, other bird, squirrel or horse. And while the illness is not fatal, or even harmful to everyone who may contract it, it is estimated that 1 out of every 150 people who contract the illness will require hospitalization.
What Is A Vector?
I’m glad you asked… According to the “Protecting Public Health in the San Gabriel Valley” pamphlet provided by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, “A Vector is defined in the Health & Safety code as: Any animal capable of transmitting the causative agent of human disease or capable of producing human discomfort or injury, including but not limited to, mosquitos, flies, other insects, ticks, mites, and rodents.”
What Does The West Nile Virus Have To Do With Claremont?
Here in Claremont we have lots of trees, which means we have lots of birds, squirrels and other small critters. We also have horses and of course people. And we people have lots of swimming pools, ponds, birdbaths, fountains, hot tubs and other standing water sources. Which means we have lots of places and lots of ways for the mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus to reproduce and spread the virus.
Just one female mosquito, allowed to breed can spawn up to 2,000,000 other mosquitos in practically no time at all.
It is important to note that while people and horses are not the primary targets for West Nile Virus we can get it but it is not contageous - we can not spread it to other people or mosquitoes that may bite us.
In the case of horses, the virus will be fatal about 50% of the time. And this does not seem to be influenced by the breed or age of the infected animal. There is a vaccine available for West Nile virus for horses. Contact your local veternarian for more information.
What Are The Symptoms of West Nile Virus?
For most people (4 out of 5) who become infected there are no symptoms and they will suffer no ill effects from their exposure. For the people that do become ill symptoms can range from mild: Fever, Headache and Bodyaches, Nausea, A skin rash on the trunk of the body, and/or swollen lymph nodes (The symptoms of infection in the mild form can closely mimic the Flu and usually dissappear within a few weeks, but may last for several months), to the very severe.
Severe cases of West Nile Virus can lead to:
Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), Meningitis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain), and Meningeoncephalitis (inflammation of both the brain and its surrounding membrane). Symptoms of the more severe form of the illness may include:High fever, Headache, Neck Stiffness, Disorientation, Coma, Treamors, Paralysis, and possibly even Death.
For those that contract the more severe form of the illness, neurological damage may be permanent.
Who Is Most At Risk?
The elderly and those with weakened immune systems. But, unfortunately there is no way to know if you are also one of the otherwise healthy people who could get hit hardest by this illness until you get infected.
What Can You Do To Help Prevent The Spread Of This Illness?
Eliminate Backyard Mosquito Breeding Sources by:
1. Keeping your pool or spa clean, filtered and chlorinateed. Also, if you know of an abandoned or neglected pool, spa or fish pond notify the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District. You can do so anonomysly at www.sgvmosquito.org or by calling (626) 814-9466.
2. Regularly checking and emptying any containers that may hold water in or around your yard. Then store them indoors or upside down so that water can’t collect or pool.
3. Cleaning your birdbath at least once a week. And if you are no longer maintaining your birdbath or fountain, make sure that it is totally drained and kept dry.
4. If you have an ornamental pond, fountain or water garden you can stock it with Mosquitofish. The District usually has Mosquitofish available free to interested residents for placement in ponds, water gardens and water troughs. Contact the District for availability and more information. Oh, and if you live in an area serviced by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, they will even deliver!
5. If you have a septic tank make sure that the cover or other openings are tightly sealed to keep adult mosquitos from getting inside and laying their eggs.
6. Cleaning your rain gutters to keep water from puddling or pooling.
7. Not over-water your yard or fields. Also, drain or fill low-lying areas to prevent water from pooling there. Be sure to also check around sprinkler heads as these make great mosquito breeding grounds.
8. Fixing broken or leaking faucets and watering equipment. Not only will broken or leaking faucets waste precious water and cost you money, they can create standing water puddles that give mosquito babies plenty to eat and a place to grow.
9. Contacting the District if you have a mosquito problem, especially if you don’t know where they are coming from. A neighbor may have a standing water source that needs treating.
10. If you are not in the area serviced by the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District, or if you live in California, but have no idea what district you fall under, take a quick trip to www.WestNile.CA.Gov and then under the heading (located in the box on the right hand side of the screen). Locate Your Local Mosquito and Vector Control Agency enter your zip code in the space provided and it will tell you which District you live in, who to contact and how to contact them.
Another HUGE Thing You Can Do Is Participating in the Dead Bird Surveillance Program.
If you find a dead bird, especially a crow or other corvid (Corvids are crows, ravens, jays or magpies.), please call the California Department of Health Services Hotline at 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473).
Not all birds will qualify for testing; however the reports are critical in identifying areas where West Nile virus is circulating. If you find a dead bird that is not going to be collected for testing, you may safely dispose of it by picking the bird up using either rubber gloves or a plastic bag turned inside out and used as a make-shift glove. The bird’s remains can then be sealed in the bag and disposed of in the trash.
Topics: Claremont News, General |
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May 25th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Tisza, this is a great post - full of practical information both for your community and for the region of the country generally! It is obvious you care about the well-being of folks in your community. You did so much research on this post - it is a great resource and I bet a lot of folks will bookmark it. I will!
May 26th, 2007 at 11:03 am
This is good to know not only for the residents of Claremont… but for the rest of the country as well. I always worry about the kids playing outside when there have been so many reports of West Nile here near Chicago.
I guess you can’t stop living, but it sure sounds like there’s a lot you can do to take precautions against it! Great post, and awesoem research!