West Nile Virus: First Human Case – Mobile County

Jul 7th, 2004

Dr. Bernard Eichold, Health Officer for the Mobile County Health Department has been advised of laboratory results indicating the first human case of West Nile virus in the 36617 area of Mobile County. Patient is a male in his eighties. He was seen and treated in a local hospital and is recovering.

According to Dr. Eichold, humans with West Nile virus (WNV) or other forms of mosquito-borne encephalitis such as Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), humans often have symptoms of high fever, severe headache, nausea, stiff neck, confusion, muscle weakness, paralysis, disorientation, and seizurs that are severe enough to require medical attention. In rare cases WNV, SLE, and EEE can cause coma or death. The seriousness of an illness may depend on a person’s health and age. WNV affects the elderly most severely and EEE affects the young and elderly most severely.

Aggressive mosquito surveillance and control activities continue throughout the county. The most effective and economical method to reduce adult mosquitoes is to reduce their emergence from as many breeding sites as possible – larviciding (killing the larvae) and source reduction. Vector Control Inspectors regularly check areas with standing water such as roadside ditches, drainage ditches, and storm drains for mosquito breeding and treat as necessary. The inspectors also respond to service requests from citizens to inspect backyard areas as well as to treat identified breeding areas and to provide education. Due to large volumes of calls received daily, service requests are responded to on a first call first served basis and may take a few days to be addressed. Citizens can call mosquito control at 690-8124 to report stagnant water that may be breeding mosquitoes.

In addition to larviciding activities, each day, the Mobile County Health Department evaluates mosquito and disease surveillance data, inspection reports, and service requests to target 10-12 routes out of a total of 50 routes for nightly (Monday through Friday) mosquito spraying. Spray trucks used for these operations dispense low volumes of aerosol insecticides and are equipped with a system that sprays the correct amount of insecticide for the speed of the vehicle.

Dr. Eichold urges everyone to use precautions to avoid exposure to mosquitoes. Listed below are practical strategies to avoid mosquito bites.

PERSONAL PROTECTION: CLOTHING AND AROMATICS
Wear loose fitting, light colored clothes to help prevent mosquitoes from reaching the skin and to retain less heat, making yourself less "attractive" to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors.
When possible, wear long sleeves and long pants.
Avoid perfumes, colognes, fragrant hair sprays, lotions and soaps, which attract mosquitoes.

PERSONAL PROTECTION: REPELLENTS
Follow the label instructions when applying repellents. Permethrin repellents are only for clothes - not on the skin.
When using repellents avoid contact with eyes, lips and nasal membranes.
Use concentrations of less than 10 percent when applying DEET containing products on children.
Apply DEET repellent on arms, legs, and other exposed areas, but never under clothing. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
Citronella candles and repellents containing citronella can help, but their range is limited. Herbals such as cedar, geranium, pennyroyal, lavender, cinnamon, and garlic are not very effective.

PERSONAL PROTECTION: AROUND THE HOME
Mosquito activity peaks at dusk and again at dawn; restrict outdoor activity during these hours.
Keep windows and door screens in good condition.
Replace porch lights with yellow light bulbs that will attract fewer insects.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water; empty all water from old tires, cans, and jars, buckets, drums, plastic wading pools, toys, and other containers.
Clean clogged gutters.
Remove the rim from potted plants and replace water in plant/flower vases weekly.
Replenish pet watering dishes daily and rinse birdbaths weekly.
Fill tree holes and depressions left by fallen trees with dirt or sand.
Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito fish or use larvicide “doughnuts.”
Do not place grass clippings or blow leaves into drainage ditches or storm drains, as this will block the flow of water and allow mosquito breeding near the home.

For more information, please see the Mobile County Health Department web page for the most updated numbers relating to West Nile virus in Mobile County: "http://www.mobilecountyhealth.org"