(Arlington, Va.)—Arlington public health officials confirmed Thursday that the County has two probable and one suspected human cases of West Nile Virus, bringing to a total of 11 the number of human cases recorded in Virginia this year. Only one of the ten cases has been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Cases are listed as probable or suspected until the CDC completes its testing and analysis, a process that can take up to two weeks.
“We had already confirmed that West Nile Virus was present in Arlington, and the first human infection was only a matter of time,” said Dr. Susan Allan, public health director for Arlington. “That there are now human cases in the County should cause all residents to redouble their efforts at eliminating potential mosquito breeding areas around their homes and to take appropriate protective measures when outside.”
The probable cases involve an 83-year-old woman who has been hospitalized in serious but stable condition since Sept. 4 and a 53 year-old man who sought symptomatic treatment at the hospital emergency room and returned home. The suspected case involves a 67-year-old man who is currently under medical care. The three neighborhoods involved are Bluemont, Yorktown and Donaldson Run. The County last larvicided in the Bluemont area on Sept. 5 and in the Yorktown neighborhood on Sept. 11. Donaldson Run was larvicided on July 30.
The County has maintained an aggressive mosquito monitoring and control program throughout the year. This has included larviciding more than 12,000 storm basin sites and many other open water sites on two complete rounds through the County. Larviciding eliminates the mosquitoes before they emerge and has minimal effect on the environment or risks to animals. An additional round of larviciding will be continued through this month, to significantly reduce the mosquito populations that will be present in the fall.
“At this point, it is the consensus of the Virginia Department of Health and of other mosquito experts that spraying would not be effective in controlling the mosquito species that carry West Nile virus in this area,” said Allan. “County staff will continue to monitor the mosquito situation and to evaluate appropriate mosquito control measures. In addition, as the weather continues to cool, the populations of mosquitoes will naturally reduce and mosquitoes will be less active, therefore less of a threat.”
Arlington has had 51 dead birds and 13 mosquito pools test positive for WNV so far this year, compared to a total of 37 birds and no mosquito pools last year.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recommends the following tips to reduce exposure to mosquitoes:
Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing.
If possible, stay indoors when mosquitoes are biting.
Check window and door screens to ensure that mosquitoes don’t enter the home.
Use insect repellent products with no more than 20-30 percent DEET for adults and less than 10 percent for children. Adults should apply repellent on children.
Spray repellent on your hands and then apply to your face.
Only apply repellent to exposed skin and clothing. Do not use repellent under clothing.
Do not apply repellent over cuts, wounds, sunburn, or irritated skin.
Wash repellent off daily and reapply as needed.
VDH also recommends the following steps to control mosquitoes from breeding:
Turn over or remove containers in yards where rainwater collects, such as old tires, potted plant trays, boats, buckets and toys.
Clean out birdbaths and wading pools once a week.
Clean roof gutters and downspout screens regularly.
Eliminate standing water on tarps and flat roofs.
Do not leave garbage can lids upside down or allow water to collect in garbage cans.
For more information on West Nile Virus, log on to the County Web site at www.co.arlington.va.us or the VDH web site at www.vdh.state.us.
