William Penn Life, 2002 (37. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
2002-08-01 / 8. szám
HealthPage West Nile Viru How you can recognize the symptoms and help prevent the spreading of this potential killer THE NEWS AT THE BEGINNING OF August was disturbing, to say the least. Five people in Louisiana had died due to West Nile virus. More than 100 other confirmed cases of the virus were reported throughout the eastern half of the country. The virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other animals. Most people who are infected with the West Nile virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches before fully recovering. Some persons may also develop mild rash or swollen lymph glands. In some individuals, particularly the elderly, West Nile virus can cause disease that affects the brain tissue. At its most serious, it can cause permanent neurological damage and can be fatal. Symptoms of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) include the rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, confusion, loss of consciousness (coma), or muscle weakness, and may be fatal. The risk of severe disease is higher for persons 50 years of age and older. There is no evidence to suggest that West Nile virus can be spread from person to person or from animal to person. Human illness from West Nile virus is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a mosquito bite is low. You can further reduce your chances of becoming ill by protecting yourself from mosquito bites. To avoid mosquito bites, you can limit the number of places available for mosquitos to lay their eggs by eliminating standing water sources from around your home (see list below). Apply insect repellent containing DEET when you're outdoors. Avoid applying repellent to children less than two years old. Use care in applying repellent to small children, and don't put repellent on their Ways to control mosquitoes • Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens that have tears or holes. • Remove all discarded tires from your property. • Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar waterholding containers. • Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall. • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty and covered. • Drain water from pool covers. • Change the water in bird baths every 3 to 4 days. • Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use. • Eliminate any standing water that collects on your property. hands because it may get into their mouth or »es andtause irritation. Wearing long-slleved clothes and long pants treated with repellent will further reduce your risk, as will staying indoors duritg peak mosquito feeding hours (dusk until dawn). Check to see if there is an organized mosquito control program in your area. If no program exists, work with your local government officials to establish a program. The American Mosquito Control Association can provide advice, and their book, "Organization for Mosquito Control," is a useful reference. Dead birds in an area may mean that West Nile virus is circulating between the birds and the mosquitoes in that area. Over 110 species of birds are known to have been infected with West Nile virus. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, infected with WN virus can die or become ill, most infected birds do survive. You can play an important role in monitoring West Nile virus through reporting dead birds to state and local health departments. Different states have different policies for collecting and testing birds. Check with your state and local governments to learn more. Health Links For the latest information about West Nile virus, its history, its symptoms, possible treatments and prevention measures, log onto the the National Institutes of Health’s MEDLINEplus Health Information pages, at: O www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ westnilevirus.html William Pm Lilt, August/September 2002 5
