from Health Department of Northwest Michigan
Residents asked to protect themselves from mosquito bites
Today the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) was informed that in August a common raven in Bellaire and a red-shouldered hawk in Kewadin, tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This follows notification of a fledgling osprey infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) found July 28 and reported to HDNW earlier this week. Both viruses are carried by infected mosquitos.
“This discovery indicates that the WNV and EEE viruses are here in northern Michigan. It’s our goal to provide residents with information to help them minimize exposure that can lead to disease,” says Dan Thorell, HDNW Health Officer. “Mosquito-borne illness will continue to be a risk in Michigan until late fall when nighttime temperatures consistently fall below freezing.”
Be Proactive
Residents are being reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites, as people can also become infected with WNV and EEE by being bitten. WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental U.S. About one in five people who are infected, develop a fever and other symptoms while others do not feel sick. Although rare, EEE is one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S., with a 33% fatality rate among people who become ill. The fatality rate in birds and other animals varies.
To protect yourself from mosquito bites:
- Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved products, to exposed skin or clothing, and always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors. Apply insect repellent to clothing to help prevent bites.
- Avoid being outside during peak mosquito activity between dusk and dawn.
- Use windows and doors with well-maintained screens.
- Empty water from mosquito breeding sites around the home, such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires, or similar sites where mosquitoes may lay eggs.
- Use nets and/or fans over outdoor seating areas.
To protect animals:
- Put farm animals in the barn during peak mosquito activity from dusk to dawn.
- Check with your vet on whether EEE vaccinations are available for your animals.
- Use an insect repellant on the animals approved for the species.
- Again, eliminate standing water on your property.
EEE is not spread person-to-person. Signs of EEE include the sudden onset of fever, chills, and body and joint aches. Illness can eventually develop into severe encephalitis, which involves swelling in the brain caused by infection or an autoimmune response. It can also result in headache, disorientation, tremors, seizures, and paralysis. Permanent brain damage, coma, and death may occur in some cases.
For more information, go to Weekly Arbovirus Summary also found at https://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.
