Friday, April 11, 2003
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Friday, April 11, 2003 |
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Time to consider West Nile prevention A mosquito spreads the West Nile virus to you by feeding on the blood of an infected bird and then biting you. People over the age of 50 are at the greatest risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus. Fortunately, only a small proportion of people infected with West Nile virus experience severe illness. However, everyone should take care to minimize exposure to mosquito bites. Dr. Michael Brackett, District Four Health Director, advises that persons can help reduce the risk of being exposed to West Nile virus by taking precautions to remove standing water where mosquitoes might breed from around their homes and worksites and increasing their personal protection against mosquitoes as follows: Reduce your time spent outdoors when mosquitoes are most active. Wear pants, long sleeves, shoes, and socks when you are outdoors while mosquitoes are active. Use a mosquito repellent that contains DEET on exposed skin. For children, consult your pediatrician or use products thatcontain less than 10 percent DEET. Do not apply to the hands of children. For adults use products that contain no more that 30 percent DEET. DO NOT use DEET on infants or pregnant women. Carefully read and follow directions on the container and wash treated skin with soap and water when mosquito exposure has ended. Make sure your home and porch have tight-fitting screens that keep mosquitoes out. Properly throw away or destroy old tires that can hold small amounts of water that allows mosquitoes to breed. Dispose of tin cans, jars, plant pots, and any other containers that can also hold water. Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall. Store wheelbarrows, tubs, buckets, barrels, and boats upside down so that water cannot accumulate in them. Change the water in birdbaths, small wading pools, ornamental ponds and pet dishes at least once a week. Properly chlorinate backyard swimming pools. Cover any pool that is not in use so rainwater and leaves do not accumulate in it. Be sure the cover does not hold pockets of water. If you find a dead Crow, Bluejay, or bird of prey without any sign of decay or trauma and want it tested, use a glove or shovel to place it in a plastic bag and double bag it. Wrap each bird separately if there is more than one. If collected on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the bird must be refrigerated until Monday A.M. Citizens need to bring birds to the Environmental Health Office, but are asked to call ahead of time to make sure the specimen can be shipped. If there is a large bird kill please notify the Coweta County Health Department so that officials can collect needed specimens. Please note that Coweta County Environmental Health will be reducing its bird testing in 2003 due to the fact that a mosquito testing program is starting. Traps will be set to catch the mosquitoes with those traps then being sent off to be tested. Individuals are asked not to bring any mosquitoes to the Coweta County Environmental Health Office. You can contact the Coweta County Environmental Health Department at 770-254-7422.
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