# Presentation: 207125

## West Nile Virus

**What You Can Do To Protect Yourself**

- Presented by 1st Lt. Chris Storey, CAP
- September 2004

## What is West Nile Virus

**West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne disease**
**WNV affects mosquitoes, horses, birds, and people**
**WMV affects the central nervous system  **
**Common in Africa, west Asia and the Middle East **
**First detected in New York in 1999**
**First detected in California in 2003**

## West Nile Virus In California

## West Nile Virus In California

| As of
Sep 20, 2004 | Humans  | Horses
 | Birds |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| State Total | 558 | 327 | 2,469 |
| Los Angeles | 225 | 10 | 790 |
| San Bernardino | 174 | 33 | 284 |
| Riverside | 85 | 80 | 136 |
| Orange | 30 | 2 | 136 |
| San Diego | 1 | 2 | 19 |

## How It Spreads

**Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds**
**73 different species of birds can carry WNV**
**West Nile Virus lives in the mosquito's salivary glands.**
**Infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile Virus to humans, birds, and animals while feeding.**
**Mosquitoes feed on the blood of warm blooded animals**
**Mosquitoes use their saliva to keep blood from clotting**

## How It Spreads

## The Signs & Symptoms

**Most people will not develop any symptoms**
**Approx 80 %**
**Approx 20% of people will have mild Symptoms**
**Fever**
**Headache**
**Body aches**
**Nausea**
**Vomiting**
**Sometimes swollen lymph glands**
**Sometimes a skin rash on the chest or back**
**Symptoms typically develop 3 to 14 days after being bitten**

## The Signs & Symptoms

**Approx 1 in 150 people will have severe symptoms**
**High fever**
**Headaches**
**Neck stiffness**
**Stupor**
**Disorientation**
**Coma**
**Muscle tremors**
**Convulsions**
**Symptoms are worse in **
**The elderly (over 50 years old)**
**The immunocompromised (chronic poor health)**

## How Is WNV Infection Treated?

**There is no specific treatment for WNV**
**WMV is a virus**
**Antibiotics do not work on viruses**
**There is no human WNV vaccine **
**For mild cases**
**Symptoms usually pass on their own**
**Most people don’t even think they have WNV**
**For severe cases**
**Supportive treatment in a hospital is necessary**
**Intravenous fluids**
**Help with breathing**
**General nursing care**

## If You Are Bitten By A Mosquito

**Wash the bite with soap and water**
**A good idea for any bug bite**
**Don’t scratch **
**Over-the-counter itch relief remedies can help relieve itching**
**Contact your doctor if you later develop  WMV type symptoms **
**Let them know you were bitten, and when**
**Let them know what you are feeling now**
**Follow their instructions**

## How Likely Is It?

**Not all mosquitoes carry WNV**
**Just because a mosquito bites you does not mean you will get WNV**
**If bitten by one that does carry WNV...**
**Approx 80% will show no symptoms**
**Approx 20% will develop mild symptoms**
**Approx 1person out of every 150 will  develop severe symptoms **

## How Can You Protect Yourself?

**Avoid mosquito bites**
**Mosquito-proof your home**
**Mosquito-proof your community **

## Avoid Mosquito Bites

**Use insect repellent **
**Apply to exposed skin when outdoors**
**Clothing can help reduce bites**
**Wear long sleeves **
**Wear long pants and socks**
**Wear light colored clothing**
**Beware of peak mosquito hours**
**Dusk to Dawn are peak mosquito hours**
**Early evening and early morning hours are peak mosquito feeding periods**

## Insect Repellant

**Which insect repellent is best? **
**Products containing DEET**
** ****(N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)**
**The most effective flying insect repellent**
**Can be used on skin and clothing**
**“****OFF! Insect Repellent”, “Cutter” brand**
**Also works well against many flying insects**
**Products containing Permathrin also good**
**For use on clothing only**

## How Long Will DEET Work?

**Products containing DEET will provide protection for ...**
**23.8% - average of 5 hours protection**
**20% - almost 4 hours of protection**
**6.65% - almost 2 hours of protection**
**4.75% - roughly 90 minutes of protection**
**Products containing 50% or more DEET...**
**Don’t offer additional protection**
**Are not proven to be any better**

## Insect Repellent Do’s

**Always follow instructions on the label**
**You don’t need to use a lot**
**Reapply after swimming or heavy sweating**
**Wash treated skin with soap & water when returning indoors**
**Cover exposed skin and clothing**
**Pick a product you are likely to use and use it!**

## Insect Repellent Don’ts

**Do not apply to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin**
**Do not apply under clothing**
**Use on exposed skin only**
**Do not spray in enclosed places**
**Bathroom, car, trailer, etc.**
**Do not spray directly to your face**
**Apply product to your hands first then apply to your face**

## Children And Insect Repellent

**Apply to your own hands first then rub product onto your child**
**Do not apply repellent to small children's hands**
**They may put their hands in their mouth **
**Keep insect repellent out of the reach of small children**
**Like you would for any household cleaners**
**Do not let small children apply insect repellent themselves**

## Mosquito-proof Your Home

**Window screens**
**Install and maintain tight fitting window and door screens**
**Keep unscreened doors and windows closed**
**Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds **
**Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water**
**Limit the number of places for mosquitoes to breed**

## Mosquito-proof Your Home

**	****Buckets**
**	****Potted plant saucers**
**	****Wheelbarrows**
**	****Unused swimming pools**
**	****Unused “kiddie pools”**
**	****Trash cans and dumpsters**
**	****Old tires or tire swings**
**	****Birdbaths**
**	****Leaking faucets**
**	****Lawn ornaments and fountains**
**	****Rain gutters**
**	****Tool or garden shed roofs**
**	****Patio umbrella stands and bases**

**Examples of standing  water ...**

## Mosquito-proof Your Community

**Report dead birds**
_**[www.wipeoutwestnile.com](http://www.wipeoutwestnile.com/)**_
**(877) WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473)**
**Clean up your yard**
**Mosquitoes don’t care about fences - keep your yard free of standing water**
**Encourage others to keep their yards free of standing water**
**Dispose of dead birds**

## Handling Dead Birds

**Do not handle dead animals with bare hands**
**Or any animal (raccoons, possums, rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, cats, dogs, etc.)**
**Use a shovel or gloves**
**Use a plastic trash bag **
**Put your hand into a large plastic bag**
**Pick up the bird using the bag as a glove**
**Wrap the bag around the bird**
**Double bag and dispose of in the trash**

## For More Information

**www.wipeoutwestnile.com**
**www.westnile.ca.gov**
**www.westnilevefer.com**
**www.cdc.gov/westnile**