COLUMBUS -- The East-Central District Health Department warns that stagnant water from recent flooding could provide plentiful breeding grounds in the area for mosquitoes and increase the potential for exposure to the West Nile Virus.
Because of the enhanced risk, the district wants people to take precautions and minimize their risk for exposure to the West Nile Virus, which can pose a serious health risk, especially to young children and the elderly.
According to the district, less than one percent of those infected become seriously ill and, if that occurs, it usually occurs within three to 15 days after the bite of the infected mosquito. Most humans infected by the virus show very mild or no symptoms.
Rebecca Rayman, executive director of the district, said the department has received three calls regarding mosquito concerns and each was from Columbus, but none have been received from any of the flooded areas.
“The district has received a few calls regarding the increase in mosquitoes related to flooding and heavy rain water,” Rayman said. “An increase in mosquitoes may mean an increase in West Nile Virus activity this year.”
“With the flooding there certainly is going to be a problem,” she said, because of standing water in ditches and poor water flow in flooded areas.
Mosquitoes can develop in any standing water that lasts more than four days, so in order to reduce the number of mosquito breeding pools, she said, try to get rid of all standing water and places that may potentially collect water.
“Many mosquitoes will breed in containers that hold water, such as flower pots or discarded tires. To reduce the mosquito population around your home and property, reduce or eliminate all standing water and debris,” Rayman said, by:
• disposing of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers,
• clearing brush from around your home,
• removing all discarded tires on your property. Used tires have become the most common mosquito breeding site in the country,
• cleaning clogged roof gutters regularly in the spring and fall,
• turning over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use,
• changing the water in bird baths,
• cleaning and chlorinating swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs; and
Weeds, tall grass and shrubbery provide an outdoor home for adult mosquitoes, which also may enter houses through unscreened windows or doors, or broken screens, Rayman said.
Most humans infected by the virus show very mild or no symptoms, according to the district, in those seriously infected, symptoms such as muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, and seizures may occur.
The greatest risk for infection is during late summer and early fall because the mosquitoes that transmit the virus increase in numbers during the summer so people should take extra precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites.
Some guidelines include, avoiding outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, covering up, when outside, with loose fitting, long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes and socks and using mosquito repellent containing 23 percent DEET for adults and 10 percent DEET for children ages 1-10 and using Avon’s Skin so Soft for babies under 1 year of age.
Every year the health department collects dead birds and sends them in for testing, Rayman said. West Nile virus infects only certain wild birds and those that are of the most interest for testing include American crows, bluejays, owls, black billed magpies and redtailed hawks.
The infected birds, especially crows, are known to get sick and die from the infection, according to the district, so reporting of dead birds is a good way to check for West Nile virus activity in the environment.
The press release from the department says a person cannot get West Nile Virus from a dead bird or from a sick bird, only from the bite of an infected mosquito. “If you find a dead bird that belongs to one of these groups, place a zip-lock plastic bag over your hand, pickup the bird and then invert the bag over the bird,” the press release says. “Place the bag with bird inside in another zip-lock plastic bag. Please put your name, address, and telephone number on a piece of paper and put it between the two bags. Bring the bird to the district or call Jan Noyd at 563-9656 to come and pick up the bird. Birds should not be damaged or decayed and should be dead less than 24 hours.”
If you have questions about West Nile Virus or to report a dead or dying bird, call Noyd at toll free (866) 466-9339.
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