DID YOU KNOW?
This summer the West Nile Virus is on track to set records.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has warned that 41 deaths have already been attributed to the disease through August and that’s not the worst of it. The infections are occurring in clusters in certain states.
Large West Nile infection clusters have now been identified in Texas, Mississippi, Michigan, South Dakota and Louisiana. Additional smaller clusters have been confirmed in Maryland, Oklahoma and North Dakota. Texas has been the hardest hit state this year with 537 cases being confirmed.
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus is a type of virus called a flavivirus. Other viruses in this group cause dengue, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Flaviviruses are commonly transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. West Nile virus was first identified in Uganda in 1937, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How does West Nile spread?
It is likely that West Nile is spread from birds to people through mosquito bites, the NIH says. Early fall is the time of year that mosquitoes tend to have the highest levels of the virus, and human cases tend to peak around this time.
HOW CAN HOMEOWNERS IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA PREVENT WEST NILE?
1. Remove standing water from flower pots, pet dishes, buckets and barrels can reduce the risk of transmission.
2. Children's wading pools should be emptied and stored on their sides when not in use
3. Wear long sleeves and pants or stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
4. Wear an insect repellant that contains one of the following ingredients: DEET, picardin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (or a synthetic version of this oil, called PMD), or IR3535. These ingredients are suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency because they provide reasonably long-lasting protection against mosquito bites.
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