Palm Springs California, USA: Mosquito-borne diseases discovered

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Mosquito-borne diseases discovered

West Nile virus found in chickens

 

 

Keith Matheny

The Desert Sun

August 25, 2006

 

 

Two mosquito-borne diseases potentially hazardous to humans - West

Nile virus and western equine encephalitis - have been found in

chickens in the far eastern Coachella Valley.

 

Two chickens from the Mecca area tested positive for West Nile, and

two other chickens in Oasis tested positive for western equine

encephalitis, the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control

District reported Thursday.

 

The district uses " sentinel chickens " in strategically placed coops

throughout its coverage area, then tests their blood regularly for

mosquito-carried diseases.

 

Preliminary testing of 50 or so mosquitoes trapped in Mecca also

preliminarily tested positive for West Nile. District officials now

await confirmation of those results.

 

" Results like these help us pinpoint where we might find larval

mosquitoes, or where to direct our adult mosquito control efforts,

such as fogging, " Vector Control District General Manager Donald Gomsi

said.

 

Mosquitoes most often develop in shallow, stagnant pools of water,

district spokesman Robert Mann said.

 

" If we have a large population of mosquitos in a trap, we know there

is a source close by, " he said. " We'll go in, try to identify a source

and control it. "

 

The public is encouraged to contact the district with information on

potential mosquito-breeding areas, Gomsi said.

 

" (West Nile) is going to be an endemic disease that's going to stay

here in residence probably from now on, " he said. " Hopefully we're

past the hump, where cases will be less severe. "

 

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Use mosquito repellent when outdoors

 

Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Use repellent and

wear long sleeves and pants at those times or consider staying indoors

during those hours.

 

Make sure screens on windows and doors are in good enough condition to

keep mosquitoes out.

 

Get rid of mosquito-breeding sites by emptying standing water from

flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and

replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so

water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their

sides when they aren't being used.

 

Sources:Directors of Health Promotion and Education; Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention

 

Mosquito-carried menaces

 

About West Nile virus:

Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected

mosquitoes can then spread the virus to humans and other animals when

they bite.

 

About four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will show

no symptoms at all.

 

Up to 20 percent of those infected have symptoms such as fever,

headaches and body aches, nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy

people have become sick for weeks.

 

About one of every 150 people infected will develop severe symptoms,

including coma, convulsions, paralysis and death.

 

About Western Equine Encephalitis:

Spread to horses and humans by infected mosquitoes.

Found mainly in the plains regions of the western and central United

States.

 

Infection can cause a range of illnesses, from no symptoms to death.

Mild illness includes headache and fever.

 

People with more severe disease can have sudden high fever, headache,

drowsiness, irritability, nausea and vomiting, followed by confusion,

weakness and coma. Young infants often suffer seizures.

 

Major complications, including brain damage, are reported in about 13

percent of infected persons overall and in about a third of infants.

The disease is fatal to about 3 percent of those who develop severe

symptoms.

 

There is no specific treatment for either disease. Prevention centers

on controlling mosquitoes and avoiding mosquito bites.