NEW HANOVER COUNTY — Public health officials are urging caution, but not alarm, after confirming at least one positive sample of the West Nile Virus in a mosquito tested in New Hanover County.
According to Phillip Tarte, the county’s health director, “Human incidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) is rare, but remains a dangerous disease. There is no cure and no vaccine available for people, so citizens should protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites.”
Tarte recommended county residents avoid “unprotected outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk, the times during the day when mosquito activity peaks. Additional protective measures include applying insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants.”
Tarte added that the county’s Vector Control would continue to monitor, test, and take proactive measures against mosquitoes.
Who is at risk?
According to the county Health Department:
The young, elderly, and immunocompromised populations are at greatest risk, and WNV can result in death. There are usually no symptoms in most people who become infected with WNV. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of WNV disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. Less than 1% of people who are infected will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues). The symptoms of neurologic illness can include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, or paralysis.
Reducing mosquito breeding and the risk of disease
New Hanover County provided the following tips for helping to prevent mosquito breeding and reduce mosquito-borne disease.
- Remove any containers that can hold water, even a small amount, including saucers under flower pots. Check tarps, buckets, toys, trash cans, under decks, wheel barrels, kayaks/canoes, boats, pools, pipes, etc. for standing water and eliminate the potential for these items to hold water.
- Store out-of-service or un-mounted tires under cover to prevent the collection of any water.
- Change the water in bird baths and pet bowls at least twice a week.
- Keep gutters clean and in good repair, and repair leaky outdoor faucets.
- When possible, drain any standing water on your property such as puddles and ditches that hold water for more than a four days after rain.
- Make sure rain barrels have tight-fitting screens or lids.
- Use screened windows and doors, and make sure screens fit tightly and are not torn.
