SRC Mosquito-Borne Illness Alert
MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS ADVISORY STATUS RAISED TO ALERT
Second case of West Nile Virus reported in Santa Rosa County
Milton, FL – The Santa Rosa County Health Department has received confirmation of a second case of human West Nile Virus. The possibility that other individuals may become infected with the virus remains extremely high. Santa Rosa Mosquito Control is continuing to spray and the health department encourages the public to continue to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.
“The confirmation of a second case of West Nile Virus in our county means that it is extremely important for people to follow the recommended precautions,” said Sandra L. Park-O’Hara, A.R.N.P., administrator of the Santa Rosa County Health Department.
First reported in the United States in 1999, by 2004 West Nile Virus had spread throughout the continental U.S. The virus is spread by mosquitoes and the majority of cases have been reported in birds. The virus is transmitted to a mosquito when it bites an infected bird. The mosquito can then transfer the virus by biting another animal or a person.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, there is no specific treatment for WNV and as many as 80 per cent of those who become infected may display no symptoms and recover well on their own. About 20 per cent experience symptoms similar to the flu. Less than one percent of those infected become seriously ill, but severe cases can lead to meningitis or enchephalitis, which can be fatal. Those most at risk are individuals over the age of 50 or those who have had an organ transplant.
The easiest and best way to avoid West Nile Virus is by preventing mosquito bites:
• Avoid going outside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are
most active.
• Dress so clothing covers most of your skin. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and
shoes.
• Apply mosquito repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or N,N-diethly-3- methyl-benzamide), Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or PMD, or IR3535 (3-[N-Butyl-N- acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester), and always follow label directions carefully.
• Install screens on windows and doors. Repair any torn or damaged screens.
• Empty standing water to discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs.
At least once a week, empty yard items such as pets’ water dishes, bird baths and flower pots. Clean rain gutters so that water drains freely. Remove trash items, such as discarded tires, that can hold water and provide sites for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.
The Santa Rosa County Health Department is no longer testing dead birds for West Nile Virus. However, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is tracking reports of dead birds via their website. To report a dead bird, go to: http://www.MyFWC.com/bird.
For more information on West Nile Virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm, or the Florida Department of Health Division of Disease Control and Health Protection site at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/medicine/arboviral/index.html
For more information on mosquito repellents, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm
Visit the Santa Rosa County Health Department’s website for a fact sheet on West Nile Virus:
http://healthysantarosa.com/Documents/WestNileVirus_FactSheet2012.pdf
