09/09/03
Guidry E-news

Galveston County Mosquito Control District Director John Marshall reports that the numerous mosquitoes in the area, due to the rains associated with tropical storm Grace, are salt marsh mosquitoes, not the Culex mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus. Culex mosquitoes prefer drier conditions and were probably flushed out relatively well by the recent heavy rains. Galveston County Mosquito Control is continuing efforts to control mosquito populations in the county.

The Galveston County Health District confirmed on Friday that a human case of West Nile virus had been identified in a county resident. The person, a 35-year-old Texas City resident, was hospitalized in Louisiana but exposure to mosquitoes may have occurred in Texas City during mid-August. The resident was successfully treated for WNV in Louisiana and has returned to the county.

“While the risk of a healthy person becoming sick with West Nile Virus from a mosquito bite is very low, people should always take steps to protect themselves,” said Dr. Mark Guidry, executive director of the health district. He reminds 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, flower pots, clogged rain gutters, leaky pipes and faucets, birdbaths and wading pools can be breeding sites for mosquitoes.

The virus is not contagious from person to person, only from the bite of an infected mosquito. Common symptoms of human infection include fever, headache, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, occasionally with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Individuals with any of these symptoms are advised to consult with their healthcare provider.

Any resident with questions concerning mosquito control efforts in Galveston County should call (800) 842-5622.

For more information on human West Nile virus, contact the Health District’s Epidemiology Department at (409) 765-2514. Additional west Nile virus information can be found at www.texaswestnile.org.

Read the press release

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