County Health Officials Monitor
Presence of West Nile Virus

May 8, 2003

La Marque – With recent news reports of West Nile virus having already been found in Louisiana, Galveston County Health District (GCHD) officials have outlined plans to track the virus locally.

“Dead bird testing is still considered to be the best way to provide an early warning of the presence of West Nile virus in an area,” states Chuck Chambers, Epidemiologist with the Galveston County Health District. “Galveston County should have a functioning dead bird surveillance system by May 15, 2003, and continue its operation at least until the virus is detected on Galveston Island or Bolivar Peninsula and on the Mainland.”

Birds to be tested will be dead blue jays, hawks, and cardinals. The birds may be taken to:

• Galveston County Mosquito Control offices at 5115 Highway 3, in Dickinson. For more information residents may call Mosquito Control at 800-842-5622.

The Galveston County Health District will also accept dead birds for testing at the following locations:

• Joe Vickery Animal Shelter, 3412 Loop 197 N. Texas City (409) 948-2485
• GCHD Environmental Building, 1205 Oak Street, La Marque (409) 938-2300
• GCHD Vital Statistics Office, Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway, Suite C100, Galveston (409) 765-2515
• Justice of the Peace Court #9, Noble Carl Rd., Crystal Beach, Fridays 10 am - Noon

Birds submitted for testing should be recently deceased (about 24 hours or less) and should be double bagged. Concerned residents should collect a bird by placing a plastic bag over it, then place that bag into another bag, and keep the dead bird cool with ice or refrigeration until it is submitted to one of the offices listed above. Residents who find dead blue jays or hawks and are unable to deliver them to one of the above locations may call the Galveston County Health District Epidemiology Department at (409) 765-2514 or (409) 938-2345.

Chambers urges people to remember the four D’s to reduce the chance of becoming infected:

• Dusk to Dawn – Stay indoors from dusk to dawn when those mosquitoes likely to carry the infection are most active.
• Dress – Dress in long pants and long sleeves when you are outside, especially in mosquito-infested areas.
• DEET – Apply insect repellant that contains DEET. Read and follow label instructions. Spray both exposed skin and clothing with repellant.
• Drain – Get rid of standing water in your yard and neighborhood. Old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, leaky pipes and faucets, birdbaths and wading pools can be breeding sites for mosquitoes.

Chambers said it is also important to keep mosquitoes out of the house. “If you keep your home open make sure that door, porch, and window screens are in good condition.” In addition, “Horse owners should consult their veterinarian about vaccinating their horses.” A WNV vaccine for humans has not been developed.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that were probably infected by feeding on birds carrying the virus. The virus is not contagious from person to person, only from the bite of an infected mosquito.

In 2002, mosquitoes testing positive for the virus were found on the Bolivar peninsula, and positive blue jays were collected from High Island, Port Bolivar, and Texas City. There were also seven Galveston County horses diagnosed with WNV infection. On a positive note, there was only one human case of WNV infection reported in Galveston County, and that patient recovered.

Healthy kids, teens, and adults under 50 years of age are at low risk of catching the virus. If they do get the infection, most of them will have mild or no symptoms. These symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, occasionally with skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

A small number of the people who are infected with West Nile virus, usually elderly people and those with immune system problems like HIV/AIDS or certain cancers, are at greater risk to develop a more severe form of the infection called encephalitis. Symptoms of more severe West Nile infections include headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, coma and paralysis. If you have these symptoms, contact your health care provider right away.

“The good news is that even in areas where mosquitoes are more likely to be carrying the virus, it’s very unlikely that a person will become sick from a mosquito bite,” says Mark Guidry, M.D., MPH, Executive Director of the Galveston County Health District. “Fewer than 1 percent of those bitten by infected mosquitoes become severely ill. Our message has not changed. Be aware of West Nile Virus, but also know that the risk remains very low.”

For more information, the public is encouraged to click on the West Nile Virus information link on the Texas Department of State Health Services website.

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org