Gov. Mary Fallin, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Oklahoma City-County Health Department all issued information Thursday to help Oklahomans protect themselves against the West Nile virus.
West Nile virus is spread to humans by mosquitoes, which contract the virus from infected birds. Once the virus is in the human body, it begins to multiply rapidly.
“For an illness that can prove so deadly to some, the majority of people who get West Nile virus never even know they have it,” said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Dr. Stephen Prescott. "Only about 20 percent of those infected by the virus will develop West Nile fever, the more severe form of the virus. About one in 150 will develop a serious, life-threatening sickness."
“West Nile virus is a serious disease that can be life-altering or even fatal,” said Fallin. “Many of our fellow Oklahomans are now hospitalized with West Nile virus. Even though we are early into the season, at least 61 cases and three deaths have been reported in Oklahoma. The best way to prevent West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites.”
Fallin urged Oklahomans to “fight the bite” by taking personal precautions to reduce the risk of mosquito bites, including using insect repellent when going outdoors, installing or repairing screens on windows and doors, and emptying standing water from items outside the home like buckets, cans, flower pots, and tires so mosquitoes have no place to breed.
“One of the most effective measures people can take is looking around their homes to identify and get rid of any sources of standing, stagnant water where mosquito larvae can grow,” says OCCHD Public Health Protection Chief Phil Maytubby.
Bird baths and outdoor pet water bowls should be emptied and refilled daily and leaves and debris should be cleaned from gutters to ensure they are not clogged.
Swimming pools and fishponds with circulating water generally are not a problem.
“As long as the water is moving, the larvae can’t grow,” Maytubby says.
For standing water sources that can’t be drained, OCCHD recommends microbial larvicides that kill mosquito larvae before they emerge as adults. Use of larvicides can reduce or eliminate the need for ground or aerial application of pesticides to kill adult mosquitoes.
Microbial larvicides are non-toxic to humans and do not pose risks to wildlife or the environment when used according to label directions. Larvicides may be purchased from hardware or home improvement stores.
“This disease has hit Oklahomans hard this year and unfortunately, those who seem to be most at risk are older citizens. If you know persons who might be at particular risk, such as parents or grandparents over age 50, please check with them to make certain they are taking precautions,” Fallin emphasized. “In addition, anyone spending significant time outdoors must also make certain to use insect repellent and carry it with them for reapplication if necessary.”
Fallin urged those who believe they have contracted West Nile to seek immediate medical attention.
“Symptoms appear within three to 15 days after exposure and generally appear flu-like, with headaches, muscle weakness, fever and nausea all being common. Anyone who suspects themselves of having West Nile virus should immediately contact a doctor," she said.
West Nile virus is a seasonal epidemic that begins in late summer and continues into the fall. Case activity spikes every three to four years depending on conditions that encourage a higher number of infected mosquitoes. Healthy, active adults who are 50 and older have the highest risk of illness, including neuroinvasive disease, which causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The age range of cases reported among Oklahomans this year is from 12 to 90 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 32 states have West Nile cases.
Residents of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County can report sources of stagnant water outside their own property. To file a complaint about mosquito habitat, visit http://www.occhd.org/community/foodprotection/complaintform or call the OCCHD Consumer Protection division at 425-4347, 425-4348, or 425-4319.
For more information on West Nile virus, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s website at www.health.ok.gov.