Crow Tests Positive for West Nile Virus in Broome County
Health Department Urges Residents to Protect Themselves
BINGHAMTON, NY – The Broome County Health Department has received notification from Dr. Anne Clark, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University, that a crow has tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). Dr. Clark is actively involved in conducting research on Crow populations and has not had any other crows test positive for WNV this year.
“This finding is not surprising. We know that West Nile Virus has had a presence in Broome County since it was first detected in 2000, and it will most likely be present for years to come. It is not cause for alarm because we have not had reports of human cases since 2002 or high dead bird densities this year, but we do urge people to take a common sense approach and protect themselves when they go outdoors,” said Claudia Edwards, Public Health Director for the Broome County Health Department.
The virus is spread when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird that carries the virus in their blood. The virus lives in the salivary glands of the mosquito and is transmitted when the mosquito bites a person or an animal.
Most people that become infected with WNV will not show any symptoms. Some will develop West Nile fever exhibiting flu like symptoms such as headache, fever, body ache, rash and swollen lymph glands. A small percentage, less than 1%, will develop severe illness that causes encephalitis. Individuals aged 50 and above are at highest risk for serious illness.
You can avoid getting WNV by taking precautions and following these prevention tips:
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Generally, the more active ingredient a repellent contains the longer it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of active ingredient in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors.
-Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children.
-Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.
- Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. Do not apply repellent to skin under your clothing. When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
- Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants.
- Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
- Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
- Help reduce the number of mosquitoes in areas outdoors where you work or play, by draining sources of standing water. In this way, you reduce the number of places mosquitoes can lay their eggs and breed.
- At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
- Swimming pools should be maintained and adequately chlorinated at all times. If pools are not being used, they should be dismantled or drained or kept covered.
- Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
- Remove discarded tires, and other items that could collect water.
- Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home.
To report ill or dead Crows or Blue Jays, residents can contact Dr. Anne Clark at Binghamton University by leaving a message at 607.777.6228. No birds will be collected. Calls reporting dead birds will be for research purposes only.
If you find a dead bird, pick it up with a shovel or gloved hands, put it in a bag and place it in the garbage for collection.
For more information on WNV go to the New York State Department of Health website at http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/.
Posted: 8/18/2011 12:08 pm
Copyright
Official County Government Site of Broome County, New York.
Copyright © 2010 Broome County. All Rights Reserved.
Comments or suggestions? Please e-mail the goBroomeCounty.com web site administrator
RSS Feed | Email This Page | Print This Page | Back To Top | Login
