The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency reminds people to take precautions when it comes to West Nile Virus or other mosquito-transmitted diseases. Avoid mosquito bites by applying insect repellent when spending time outdoors. Insect repellent containing DEET is the most effective. Make sure to always read and follow product label directions, especially when applying repellent to small children. Consult a health care provider for more information on protecting small children against mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes breed by laying their eggs in standing water. Protect your environment by limiting the number of places mosquitoes can lay eggs. Check for and discard standing water at least twice a week. Other forms of prevention include avoiding the outdoors during dawn and dusk and repairing or installing window screens to keep mosquitoes out.

“It is probably only a matter of time before testing shows the presence of the virus in animals or humans in California,” stated Dr. John Walker, Public Health Officer for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. “The medical community will be prepared and we want our communities to be armed with information.

Human illness from WNV is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported. The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a mosquito bite is low.

Officials from the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency are working in collaboration with staff from county Animal Services, the local Mosquito Abatement Districts, county Office of Emergency Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, county Sheriff’s Office, county Department of Environmental Resources, the state Department of Health Services, Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Prevention District and Delta Blood Bank to prepare for the presence of West Nile Virus in California and Stanislaus County.

This local West Nile Virus working group has worked on mosquito abatement planning and implementation, discussed protocols for handling possible cases of WNV and have created and implemented communications strategies for educating the public.

“Were still in the peak of our mosquito season,” stated Jerry Davis of the Turlock Mosquito Abatement District. “People need to be aware that the high point of mosquito season doesn’t end until late September and they should continue to take appropriate precautions.

WNV is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. In turn, the mosquito can pass the virus to humans. The majority of mosquitoes don’t carry the virus and most people bitten by a mosquito will not be exposed to the virus. WNV is not contagious or classified as a bio-terrorist agent.

Most people who are infected with WNV will have no symptoms at all or display only mild symptoms, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Less than one out of one hundred people who get bitten by an infected mosquito will get severely ill. The risk of severe illness is greater for persons over 50 years of age.

Symptoms of WNV may be flu-like such as fever, headache, weakness, swollen glands and rash. According to Walker, “In most cases, the virus causes only a mild disease. Many people who are exposed to the virus might never become sick or they have such mild symptoms, they don’t realize it’s West Nile,” he noted. “However,” Walker cautioned, “in rare cases, the virus can cause encephalitis and even death.”

Dead birds in an area may mean that WNV is circulating between the birds and mosquitoes in that location. The California Department of Health Services has implemented a Dead Bird Hotline for the public to call if they find a dead bird.

Call 1-877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473).

To download a brochure on WNV visit www.hsahealth.org or call (209) 558-5678

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent Care Center and multiple programs serving over 500,000 patients and clients each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available at its web site www.hsahealth.org