West Nile Virus in Mississippi, Columbus AFB remains safe in 2012

  • Published
  • By Viviana Zittel
  • 14th Medical Operations Squadron
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness. To date no mosquitoes on Columbus Air Force Base have been infected with West Nile virus. Experts believe WNV is established as a seasonal epidemic in North America that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall. West Nile virus is spread most commonly by infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, they can then spread it to humans and other animals. A few cases of WNV have been recorded by which the disease was spread by transfusions, transplants, and from mother-to-child, although very rarely. People over the age of 50 are more likely to develop serious symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, even though healthy people have become sick for several weeks. About 1 in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid mosquito bites. The CDC suggests additional measure such as using insect repellent on skin when outdoors; products with 30 percent DEET are adequate protection. Products with permethrin can be used on clothing. Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn so use extra caution - wear long sleeves and pants plus mosquito repellent or consider staying indoors. Eliminate mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water, changing water in pet dishes, routinely changing water in bird baths and covering trash containers to keep rainwater out. It is good practice to keep your grass cut short and keep drains, gutters and ditches clean so water can drain properly. Do not handle dead birds with bare hands, please call the Columbus Pest Management office at 434-7392 if you see any.

Public Health performs mosquito surveillance April thru October or until the first freeze. Traps are set across Columbus AFB weekly then they are sorted to be sent for testing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. A report from the entomologist is received, including the names of the species and what disease they may carry. All mosquitoes are tested for all vector borne diseases as well. As a reminder, to date no mosquitoes on Columbus AFB have been infected with West Nile virus.

For more information you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention WNV page at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/ , the Mississippi State Department of Health website has geographical information and education facts at www.msdh.ms.gov and state wide statics at http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/index.html. Any further questions please contact the Columbus AFB Public Health office at 434-2144 or 434-3339.