Like an annoying mosquito buzzing around a dark bedroom, the West Nile virus has made its presence known in the Northwest, but it has yet to take much of a bite out of Washington. That doesn’t mean it won’t.
With just a handful of cases discovered in animals and one possible case discovered in a human, Washington has remained largely immune to the virus that has killed 645 Americans in the past four years. Despite the absence of serious cases, however, residents should take steps to prevent the unpredictable virus.
After its discovery in New York in 1999, West Nile spread quickly toward the Pacific. At its worst, the infection caused 63 human deaths in Colorado in 2003. It is unclear why West Nile spiked in Colorado that year, just as it is unclear why Washington was the only of the lower 48 states without a case in 2004.
The mosquito net around this state isn’t likely to last forever. California was hit hard with 28 deaths and 773 human infections last summer, and Oregon had almost 50 animal cases confirmed.
Snohomish County was one of the few in Washington to report a West Nile case in 2002 when it was found in a dead crow. The high time for infection is in August and September, after the virus has circulated between birds and mosquitoes, according to Dr. M. Ward Hinds, health officer for the Snohomish Health District. Humans can contract it through a simple mosquito bite. A percentage, albeit small, of these bites will cause severe sickness, and in rare cases, death.
Lowering the mosquito population is a priority in swatting this problem. In order to combat West Nile before it pokes its proboscis into our state, the Snohomish Health District offers some preventative measures:
* Mosquitoes will breed in standing water. Citizens should be sure to get rid of puddles and pools that may sit dormant for a week or more. Be sure to check the bases of flower pots, gutters and bird baths.
* Cover your skin with long pants and long-sleeve shirts when going outside at dawn and dusk. Insect repellent containing DEET is also a good option.
* Make sure screens in windows and doors are in good condition.
* Report dead birds for inspection to the Snohomish Health District at 425-339-8720.
It may be only a matter of time before the West Nile virus takes a stab at us. Awareness and preventive action are our best weapons against it.
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