State testing for W. Nile is under way
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 02:02 p.m., June 9, 2008
Updated 12:33 a.m., June 10, 2008
It's time to break out the DEET and empty water containers in your yard because "you don't want to be the first case" of West Nile virus in 2008, a state health department epidemiologist said Monday.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment started its annual surveillance last week, testing mosquito pools to see if they're positive for the virus.
The virus is transmitted to birds, humans and other mammals when female mosquitoes grab a blood meal to invigorate their eggs.
"We've had no positives thus far, but I'm sure there are some infected mosquitoes out there already," said John Pape, epidemiologist with CDPHE.
No horses have tested positive, either, and there have been no human cases reported.
Soon, birds found dead will be brought in and tested.
But the best way to predict whether this will be a bad West Nile year - as were 2003 and 2007 - or a mild one - such as 2005 and 2006 - is to see how many mosquito pools are positive, Pape said.
"As the weather heats up, their populations will start to increase dramatically."
Avoiding W. Nile
* When outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA- registered active ingredient.
* Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.
* Have good screens on windows and doors.
* Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels; replace water in bird baths weekly; keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when not in use.
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June 9, 2008
3:29 p.m.
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YourNeilness writes:
Oh yes, lets all go out and cover ourselves with poison and wear long sleeves on 90+ degree days for fear of the terrifying west nile virus! Never mind the long-term effects of DEET on your skin or the risk of getting heat stroke from wearing long sleeves on hot summer days (I know, the article doesn't recomend wearing long sleeves, but I always hear and see that in the news when they talk about this subject). All this paranoia over a virus that killed all of 2% of those afflicted in 2003 (1.2% last year) and a miniscule 63 people at its peak in 2003. Those that died were probably people at high risk of dying from west nile or many other viruses due to weakened immune systems (such as the elderly, young children or people with immune deficiency diseases), or people who neglect to go to the hospital when they're sick (such as the poor, uninsured or undocumented). By the way, 810 people died from influenza/pnuemonia in Colorado in 2003 and 29,506 people died of heart disease in Colorado in 2003. Where's the paranoia about that? And how about the 632 people that died in car accidents in 2003? It sounds like driving is much more likely to kill you than being bit by a mosquito does. Yet, not many people drive like they're scared its going to kill them, from my observations. On the contrary, they take huge risks on the road in order to gain a couple of seconds or minutes on their trip, regardless of if they're in a hurry or not!
RMN, please do not participate in the spreading of fear and panic that the news media engages in every year during mosquito season. I'm not saying ignore the issue (for example, clearing away any standing water on your property is probably a good idea), but we don't need to be smearing ourselves in poison and living in fear every day either.
June 9, 2008
5:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hodgkine writes:
Face it YourNeilness, fear sells even better than sex.
June 9, 2008
6:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
sampson writes:
I am a beekeeper in Delta. I can tell you that what the mosquito districts are spraying are not only toxic to honeybees but to every other living insect that they come into contact with. Some chemicals used/misused even kill: fish, birds, frogs and other critters who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time or who may feed on some of these poisoned insects.
576 cases of West Nile represent 1 case for every 9,202 people living in the state and that is the so-called justification for spraying THOUSANDS of gallons of highly toxic chemicals into the environment. Don't overlook the facts! You, your family, your pets, your property are all being exposed to some of the deadliest pesticides invented. All for what?