A handful of cases of the West Nile virus does not an epidemic make, but the Snohomish Health District and Stevens Hospital aren’t taking any chances that its service area will be caught unawares.
The two health-care organizations are joining forces to present a free, public information session on the virus from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the fourth-floor auditorium at Stevens. The hospital is located at 21601 76th Ave. W. in Edmonds
Those planning to attend are asked to register by calling 425-640-4363.
The presenter will be Nancy Furness, a special assistant for Public Health Emergency Preparedness at the Snohomish Health District in Everett. Certified in public-health nursing, she is involved with communicable-disease-outbreak planning and response at the health district and with the state as well as the county.
Serving in a similar role at Stevens is Bobbi Ragland, an infection-control expert and registered nurse. She also sits on the hospital’s emergency preparedness committee.
Of the plans for the Oct. 24 seminar, Ragland said, “We think of it as the ABC’s of prevention, where prevention equals awareness plus behavior plus changes. To change behavior next summer, we need to start the ABC’s today.”
The virus, Ragland explained, is spread to humans and animals by a few species of infected mosquitoes. The virus lives in the mosquito’s saliva and is transmitted through biting.
This winter is expected to be relatively mild so the mosquito population next summer is likely to be robust, Ragland noted. That’s why local health authorities want to get a jump on getting out the word on preventative measures.
At the seminar the public will learn more about West Nile virus, how to protect themselves from it and how to prevent its spread, according to Ragland.
Because the virus first appeared in the United States just seven years ago, many people aren’t familiar with it. (It was first isolated in the West Nile region of Uganda in 1937 and first detected in the U.S. in New York before making its way across the country.)
Last month, health authorities confirmed the state’s first two cases — a husband and wife — in Pierce County. Both have fully recovered.
Some people experience mild, flu-like symptoms after being bitten by an infected mosquito. In a few cases, the disease has progressed to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain.) No vaccine for humans yet exists.
For those unable to attend the information session, Bobbi Ragland sent along these virus-prevention tips compiled by the Snohomish Health District:
• Prevent mosquito bites by making sure window and door screens are “bug tight.” Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are the most active. Wear long-sleeve clothing and a hat when going into mosquito-infested areas.
• Use mosquito repellent. Adults should use products containing less than 35 percent DEET and children ages 2 through 12 should use products containing less than 10 percent DEET.
• Empty anything containing standing water such as tires and planters.
• Change water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools and animal watering troughs weekly.
• Clear clogged roof gutters in spring and fall.
And don’t think just because it’s fall, mosquitoes aren’t around.
Bobbi Ragland said on the afternoon of this interview she spied a slow-moving mosquito in her bathroom before she left for work. “He didn’t last long,” she said in conclusion.
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