What is West Nile Virus?
How do people get West Nile Virus?
What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus?
What should I do if I am experiencing West Nile Virus symptoms?
How do mosquitoes breed and how long do they live?
What type of insect repellent should I use?
How is standing water treated?
What type of spray is used to control mosquitoes?
What precautions should I take during and after spraying?
What should I do if I find a dead bird?
Why is the state testing only blue jays and crows for West Nile Virus?
How do mosquitoes become infected with West Nile Virus?
What animals have tested positive for West Nile Virus?
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-transmitted virus which can cause disease in birds, humans, and horses. It is a natural disease in bird populations. About 1 in 150 people exposed to WNV will develop the severe form of the disease, called encephalitis, which affects the central nervous system. Many people exposed to WNV suffer no affects while others may experience mild to moderate flu-like symptoms. There is no human vaccine for this disease.
Attached Documents:
 | FAQ Mosquitoes & People.pdf |
How do people get West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. There has been no documented evidence of animal to person transmission.
Attached Documents:
| WNV cycle.pdf |
What are the symptoms of West Nile Virus?
Most humans and animals that are infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms. About 20% of the people who have the virus will develop West Nile fever. The symptoms for West Nile fever are also fairly mild. These include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen glands. These symptoms usually last only for a few days and do not have any long-term health effects. West Nile encephalitis or meningitis ("encephalitis" and "meningitis" mean inflammation to different parts of the brain and spinal cord) is the most severe form of infection. Those symptoms include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, convulsions, paralysis, and coma.
What should I do if I am experiencing West Nile Virus symptoms?
Contact your health care provider if you have concerns about your health. If you or your family members develop symptoms such as high fever, confusion, muscle weakness, and severe headaches, you should see your doctor immediately.
If your doctor suspects WNV infection, he/she will first take a medical history to assess your risk for West Nile virus. People who live in or traveled to areas where West Nile virus activity has been identified are at risk of getting West Nile encephalitis. Also, persons older than 50 years of age have the highest risk of severe disease. If you are determined to be at high risk and have symptoms of West Nile encephalitis, your provider will draw a blood sample and send it to a commercial or public health laboratory for confirmation.
How do mosquitoes breed and how long do they live?
Mosquitoes start out as an egg laid in standing water. In water, this egg then develops into several larval and pupal stages before emerging as an adult mosquito. They can go from egg to adult in 7-14 days. Most adult mosquitoes live for only a few weeks. However, some mosquitoes can overwinter (live several months) in an adult stage.
Attached Documents:
| laying eggs.pdf |
| larvae.pdf |
What type of insect repellent should I use?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. CDC believes that products containing DEET or Picaridin offer longer-lasting protection than other products. Choose a repellent that will provide adequate protection for the amount of time you will be outdoors. A repellent with a higher percentage of active ingredients is a good choice if you will be outdoors for several hours while a repellent with a lower percentage is a good choice if you will be outdoors for a short period of time.
Attached Documents:
| How Do I Choose an Insect Repellent.pdf |
| Insect Repellent Use and Safety Q & A.pdf |
How is standing water treated?
Standing water poses a hazard because it breeds mosquitoes. It is treated using a larvicide, which kills larval mosquitoes in the water. The larvicide is target specific and does not harm mammals, fish, or waterfowl.
What type of spray is used to control mosquitoes?
An ultra-low volume spray is used to kill adult mosquitoes. It is applied using a truck sprayer. The product is designed to kill mosquitoes on contact in the air, and it breaks down immediately after dispensed.
What precautions should I take during and after spraying?
Residents may choose to go indoors while their area is being sprayed and may also choose to close the windows while the treatment occurs on their street. Central air conditioning units may remain on because these units do not pull air into the home. Window air conditioning units may be switched to re-circulate mode or shut off while treatment occurs. It is not necessary to wash any objects left outside during spray treatments.
What should I do if I find a dead bird?
You should contact the Health District’s Mosquito Control line if you find a dead bird on your property. The phone number is 440-284-0444. At this time, the state is only collecting blue jays and crows for testing. In order for the bird to be used for testing, it must have been dead for 48 hours or less and in suitable condition. Use rubber, latex, or nitrile gloves to pick up the bird and double-bag it in plastic bags. Place the bird on ice or in the freezer until pick-up.
Although the health district is only collecting blue jays and crows, it is maintaining a database for all dead bird reports. Please call the mosquito control line or use the online form to report any dead bird on your property.
Attached Documents:
| FAQ Mosquitoes & Birds.pdf |
Why is the state testing only blue jays and crows for West Nile Virus?
Blue jays and crows are related and are very susceptible to West Nile Virus. A dead bird that shows no other signs of disease or injury may have died from West Nile Virus.
How do mosquitoes become infected with West Nile Virus?
Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. Infectious mosquitoes carry virus particles in their salivary glands and infect susceptible bird species during blood-meal feeding. Bird reservoirs will sustain an infectious viremia for 1 to 4 days after exposure after which the hosts that survive develop life-long immunity.
What animals have tested positive for West Nile Virus?
- Birds: Between 1999 and 2003, WNV was detected in dead birds of more than 200 species. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, can become ill or die if infected with the virus, most survive.
- Dogs and Cats: Because WNV is transmitted by infectious mosquitoes, dogs or cats can be infected with the virus in the same way as humans.
- Horses: Cases of WNV disease in horses have been documented, either by virus isolation or by detection of antibodies. Approximately 40% of equine West Nile encephalitis cases result in the death of the horse. Horses become infected with the virus by the bite of infectious mosquitoes. A licensed vaccine is available from veterinarians for equines.
- Other mammals: WNV infections have been reported infrequently in mammals such as bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, rabbits, and llamas.
Veterinarians should take normal infection control precautions when caring for an animal suspected of having WNV or any viral infection. It may be possible that dogs and cats could become infected by eating infected animals such as birds.
