Citizens Reminded to Take Effective Mosquito Prevention Precautions This Labor Day Weekend

Michigan Department of Community Health Director, James K. Haveman, Jr., Michigan Department of Agriculture Director, Dan Wyant and Michigan Department of Community Health Chief Medical Executive, Dr. David R. Johnson today urged all Michigan residents, especially seniors, to protect themselves from mosquitoes while enjoying their Labor Day weekend activities. They also provided a testing update and crow submission modifications.

"It is extremely important for people to take all the simple precautions they can to ensure a safe and healthy holiday," said Haveman. "While the risk of West Nile encephalitis is higher in persons 50 years of age and older, we strongly urge all individuals to use insect repellent that contains the active ingredient DEET and avoid outdoor activities during prime mosquito exposure hours of dusk and dawn."

"With the dry spells this summer, people may not have recently noticed as much mosquito activity as at the beginning of the summer," said Wyant. "This is no reason to become complacent about protecting yourself from mosquitoes."

Ongoing public health surveillance for the virus has not detected any cases of West Nile virus in humans in Michigan. The Department of Community Health continues to work closely with physicians, infection control practitioners, hospital epidemiologists, laboratory directors and local health departments to identify any possible cases of human disease in Michigan.

The West Nile virus has been detected in 11 crows in Southeast Michigan. They include: --Three from Royal Oak
--One from Oak Park
--Two from Clinton township
--One from Macomb township
--One from Southfield
--One from Birmingham
--Two from northern Detroit in proximity of the state fairgrounds

"Preliminary testing indicates we may have additional positive birds from Ann Arbor and Detroit, but this testing will not be finalized until next week," said Johnson. "Regardless of the number and exact location of crows that are positive, people throughout the state need to take the basic, common-sense precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes."

The Department of Agriculture and local health departments have increased mosquito surveillance for West Nile virus in areas where infected birds have been found. While testing on these mosquito samples are not yet complete, it has been determined that types of mosquitoes that bite both birds and humans have been found in these areas.

"It is thanks to the impressive effort of citizens who have called the hotline and arranged to have dead crow specimens tested that we have been able to determine the presence of West Nile virus in these communities," said Johnson. "Due to this confirmation of disease, we will no longer need crows submitted for testing from Royal Oak, Clinton township, Oak Park, Birmingham, Southfield and Huntington Woods. However, reports of dead crows in these communities should be reported to either the toll-free hotline or local health departments."

Residents who find a dead crow or blue jay should contact their local health officials or report them to the State's West Nile virus toll-free hotline at 1-888-668-0869. Only black crow and blue jay specimens should be submitted for testing and decomposed or mutilated birds should not be submitted. Information on West Nile virus can be found on the Department of Agriculture website at http://www.mda.state.mi.us or on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.

Mosquitoes become infected with West Nile virus when they feed on infected birds that carry the virus in their blood. After 10 to 14 days, the mosquitos salivary glands become
infected and those infected mosquitoes can then transmit the virus to humans and other animals while biting them to take blood. During blood feeding, the mosquito injects the virus into the animal or human, where it multiplies and may cause illness. Most crows are very susceptible to infection with West Nile virus and will die within 2-3 weeks of infection.

Most people infected with the West Nile virus have no symptoms of illness, but some may become ill three to 15 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Based on preliminary evidence, about one in four infected persons will have mild illness with fever, headache and body aches, sometimes with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Encephalitis is less common and may include headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. In a few cases, mostly among the elderly, death may occur.

The virus is NOT transmitted from person-to-person. You cannot get it from touching or kissing a person who has the virus or from a health care worker who has treated someone with it.

While there is no human vaccine for West Nile encephalitis, there are many ways to reduce the risk of becoming infected. They include:
-- Apply insect repellent that contains the active ingredient DEET to exposed skin. Follow the manufacturer's directions for use on the label.
-- Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET because mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Follow the manufacturer's directions for use on the label.
-- Avoid applying repellent to children under 2 years of age, and to the hands of older children because repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth.
-- Maintain window and door screening to keep mosquitoes out of buildings.
-- Drain standing water in the yard. Empty water from mosquito breeding sites, such as flower pots, pet bowls, clogged rain gutters, swimming pool covers, discarded tires, buckets, barrels, cans and similar sites in which mosquitoes can lay eggs.
-- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.