Now that the 2014 West Nile Virus season is upon us, Montgomery County continues its year-round efforts to locate and identify areas of the county where pools of West Nile positive mosquitoes exist. Keeping the focus on the areas where positive mosquitoes have been discovered and eliminating their breeding sites will reduce the mosquito population and minimize the number of human West Nile virus cases. “There have been no positive West Nile human cases in Montgomery County this year,” said, Jennifer Nichols-Contella, Spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Public Health District. Precinct Three Commissioner, James Noack, is on a mission to make sure it stays that way. There have been positive cases of West Nile in mosquitoes tested in South County with the majority of the positive tests in The Woodlands Township. As soon as positive mosquito test results are received, Precinct 3 Mosquito Abatement initiates a treatment protocol that includes sending crews to the infected areas to spray the vicinity including storm drains, catch basins and driveway culverts during the day as well as road and county right-of-ways at night.
West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the West Nile virus is spread through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes get the virus from birds and then pass it on to other birds, animals and people. There have been no concerns related to dead birds and no birds have tested positive for West Nile in Montgomery County. Up to 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have no symptoms. However, some infections can result in serious illness or death. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there are two forms of the illness, West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and West Nile fever (WN fever). The symptoms of severe infection from West Nile neuroinvasive disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. West Nile fever is the milder form of the illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands. DSHS reported 183 human cases of West Nile in Texas last year and 14 deaths. The Montgomery County Public Health District suggests that anyone who shows similar symptoms should see their healthcare provider right away. People over 50 years of age and those with weak immune systems are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they become infected with the virus.
“Prevention is a key component,” said, Dr. Syed Ibrahim, Chief Epidemiologist at the Montgomery County Public Health District. “Residents need to wear protective clothing when outdoors, and make their home unattractive to mosquitoes by emptying containers that may collect rainwater and sprinkler water,” said, Ibrahim. Experts believe that the West Nile Virus is a seasonal epidemic of the summer months, just like influenza is to winter. However, West Nile virus can be transmitted year-round whenever mosquitoes are biting, which is why it is best to protect yourself all year.
Your best defense against West Nile is to practice these four habits:
1. Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside. Approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow the instructions on the label.
2. Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.
3. Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
4. Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home.
For more information about West Nile Virus and a West Nile fact sheet, please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services Website at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westnile/
