West Nile Virus In Nebraska

What is West Nile Virus?

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.)

West Nile Virus was first isolated in the West Nile District in Uganda in 1937 and since has spread to other countries of the world. Before 1999 it had never been found in the United States when it was discovered in New York.

West Nile virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. A mosquito becomes infected by biting a bird that carries the virus. The virus is not spread from person-to-person nor is there any evidence of animal-to-person transmission.There have been 149 human cases of the disease reported in the United States since the virus was first identified in 1999.The greatest risk for infection is during late summer and early fall because the mosquitoes that transmit the virus increase in population during the summer.

Where Is It? Since 1999 the virus has spread from New York City to 30 states in the U.S. including Nebraska. West Nile Virus was found in a Blue jay in Lancaster County in July of this year. The West Nile Virus was also found in Iowa in 2001.

Surveillance: The Douglas County Health Department is participating in surveillance and testing for West Nile Virus. Sentinel chicken flocks of six chickens each have been placed in 4 locations in Douglas County. Mosquito traps have been set up in 6 locations in the county. Testing of the chickens and mosquitoes occurs every two weeks.West Nile Virus is particularly lethal to birds in the Corvidae family and thus collection and testing of dead corvids such as Crows and Blue jays is a successful surveillance tool. When the public finds dead crows or jays, they can contact the Douglas County Health Department at 444-7481 or the Nebraska Humane Society at 444-7800 to arrange for collection of the birds.

Tips to Reduce Exposure to Mosquitoes

• Eliminate any standing water on your property. Remove discarded tires from your property
  
• Dispose of any water-holding containers and change bird bath water twice a week.
  
• Make sure that your doors and windows have tight fitting screens.
  
• Make sure roof gutters are not clogged and are draining properly. Tips to Reduce Risk of Virus Infection· Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite, usually in the evening, at nighttime, or at dawn.
  
• If you are outdoors when mosquito activity is high, wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and shoes and socks.
  
• Mosquito repellents can be used to avoid mosquito bites. Recent studies report that those repellents with DEET as an ingredient are effective. Precautions must be taken when using these products with children. Follow the manufacturer's directions.
  
• New products such as the "Mosquito Magnet" have shown promise as an effective attractant and trapping device to reduce mosquito populations for homeowner or small commercial usages.
  

* Note: Vitamin B and ultrasonic devices have not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who is at risk for getting West Nile encephalitis?
A. All residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis; persons older than 50 years have the highest risk of severe disease.

Q. Can you get West Nile Virus from another person?
A. No. west Nile Virus is NOT transmitted from person-to-person.

Q. Can you get West Nile Virus directly from birds?
A. There is no evidence that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds. However, persons should avoid bare-handed contact when handling ant dead animals and use gloves or double plastic bags to place the carcass in the garbage can.

Q. If I live in an area where birds or mosquitoes with West Nile Virus have been reported and a mosquito bites me, am I likely to get sick?
A. No. Even in areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very few mosquitoes-much less than 1%- are infected. If the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill. The chances you will become severely ill from any one mosquito bite are extremely small.

Q. What are the symptoms of West Nile encephalitis?
A. Mild infections come with fever, headache, and body aches. More severe infections may be marked by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, and convulsions.

More information about West Nile Virus can be found at:

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
www.hhs.state.ne.us/puh/epi/wnv/wnvindex.htm