MRNEC Mosquito Control Section Announces First Discovery of West Nile Virus in Wild Birds

] DOVER – Section of Mosquito Control Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Public Health Division of Delaware and the Ministry of Agriculture, announced the first detection this year of West Nile virus ( VNO) in wild birds, indicating the recurrence of this disease transmitted by mosquitoes in Delaware. WNV was detected in the first wild bird harvested and tested by Mosquito Control this year, a cormorant found on June 29 in southwestern Susbad County and reported as WNV positive on July 5 by the public health laboratory . Another crow collected in Susbad County was also reported to be infected with WNV four days later.

The peak period of WNV transmission, as well as the other worrying disease transmitted by mosquitoes, the EEE from mid-August to mid-October. In most years, the presence of heavy rains three times above normal from mid-May to mid-June has caused a serious outbreak of adult mosquitoes throughout the state. "Said Dr. William Meredith, administrator of the Mosquito Control Section, to the Fish and Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment Canada. "But with a large aerial spraying, we have now repelled the mosquito numbers in Delaware.We hope that this early detection of viruses does not predict any abnormal activity of mosquito-borne diseases later in the year." year. "

The first discovery of mosquito-borne viruses in Delaware is a good reminder for people. against mosquito bites. Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers should be worn outside in mosquito-prone areas, apply an insect repellent containing 10 to 30% DEET according to the label instructions and avoid infested areas. mosquitoes or peak periods of mosquitoes. or all night. The possibility of transmitting mosquito-borne diseases will not diminish until the onset of colder fall temperatures, usually in mid-October and sometimes later.

To reduce mosquito breeding habitat and transmission risks, all items that collect water, such as buckets or discarded containers, uncovered trash cans, stagnant bird baths, unprotected rain barrels or tanks, old tires, green wheelbarrows, flowerpot liners, depressions of tarpaulins covering boats, clogged rain gutters

In addition to wild bird trials, the Mosquito Control Section also operates 20 monitoring stations with cage chickens in the statewide field from early July through October. Sentinel chickens are kept and cared for humanely. Sentinel chickens bitten by mosquitoes carrying WNV or EEE develop antibodies that allow them to survive, the WNV or EEE affecting humans and horses, but not being transmitted between horses or horses. Chicken blood from each monitoring station is tested weekly for antibodies, indicating exposure to mosquito-borne viruses. Mosquito control also conducts state-wide surveillance to determine the types and abundances of the 19 mosquito species most of concern through a network of 25 fixed light monitoring stations for adults and badess larval mosquito populations by sampling aquatic habitats. According to the Public Health Division of Delaware, approved VNO or EEE vaccines are available to humans. The majority of people infected with WNV will have no symptoms; 20 percent develop mild illness, which can include fever, muscle and muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. A small number of infected people develop serious illness, with young children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people being particularly vulnerable. Neurological symptoms, including paralysis and possibly death, may occur.

Effective vaccines against EEE and West Nile are available for horses through veterinarians, according to the Delaware Veterinary Office Department of Agriculture. WNV and EEE cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in horses. Signs of infection in horses include fever (but not always with WNV), anorexia, head pressure, depression or personality change, weakness, blindness, seizures , muscle spasms in the head and neck. If owners notice any of these signs on their horses, they should immediately contact their veterinarian.

Horse owners can walk several steps in and around the barn to protect horses from WNV and EEE. Horses should be kept indoors at dawn and dusk, which are rush hours for mosquito activity. Topical insect repellents labeled for use on horses may be applied. The wind generated by the fans installed in the stalls can also help to deter mosquitoes. Old tires and containers must be removed and stagnant water removed. Waterers or buckets should be emptied, cleaned and filled every 2-3 days if possible to remove eggs or mosquito larvae.

For more information on:

• Mosquito Biology / Ecology and Control – Contact the Mosquito Control Section Dover Office at 302-739-9917
• Report Suspected Wild Birds at WNV, or for mosquito rescue requests – For Northern Dover areas, contact the Mosquito Control office in Glasgow at 302-836-2555; For areas south of Dover, contact the Mosquito Control Milford office at 302-422-1512.
• WNV or EEE in humans and related medical problems – Contact the Delaware Public Health Division at 888-295-5156.
• VNO or EEE in Horses and Equine Vaccines – Contact the Poultry and Animal Health Section of the Department of Agriculture at 302-698-4500 or 800-282-8685 (Delaware only)
• For more information on West Nile virus or equine encephalitis – Visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 187

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DOVER – The Mosquito Control Section of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, in collaboration with the Public Health Division of Delaware and the Ministry of Health. 39, Agriculture, announced the first detection of West Nile virus in wild birds, indicating the recurrence of this mosquito. communicable disease in Delaware. WNV was detected in the first wild bird harvested and tested by Mosquito Control this year, a cormorant found on June 29 in southwestern Susbad County and reported as WNV positive on July 5 by the public health laboratory . Another crow collected in Susbad County was also reported to be infected with WNV four days later.

La période de pointe de la transmission du VNO, de même que l'autre maladie préoccupante transmise par les moustiques, l'EEE de la mi-août à la mi-octobre. La plupart des années, la présence de pluies abondantes trois fois au-dessus de la normale de la mi-mai à la mi-juin a provoqué une sérieuse irruption de moustiques adultes dans tout l'État. », A déclaré le Dr William Meredith, administrateur de la Section du contrôle des moustiques, à la Division du poisson et de la faune du ministère de l'Environnement du Canada. "Mais avec une vaste pulvérisation aérienne, nous avons maintenant repoussé les numéros de moustiques dans le Delaware. Nous espérons que cette détection précoce des virus ne présage pas d'activité anormale des maladies transmises par les moustiques plus tard dans l'année. "

La première découverte de virus transmis par les moustiques au Delaware est un bon rappel pour les gens. contre les piqûres de moustiques. Il faut porter des chemises à manches longues et des pantalons longs à l'extérieur dans les zones sujettes aux moustiques, appliquer un insectifuge contenant 10 à 30% de DEET conformément aux instructions de l'étiquette et éviter les zones infestées de moustiques ou les périodes de pointe des moustiques. ou toute la nuit. La possibilité de transmission de maladies transmises par les moustiques ne diminuera pas avant l'arrivée des températures automnales plus froides, habituellement à la mi-octobre et parfois plus tardivement.

Pour réduire l'habitat de reproduction des moustiques et les risques de transmission, tous les articles qui recueillent l'eau, tels que seaux ou récipients jetés, poubelles non couvertes, bains d'oiseaux stagnants, barils de pluie non protégés ou citernes, vieux pneus, brouettes vertes, doublures de pots de fleurs, dépressions de bâches couvrant les bateaux, caniveaux pluviaux obstrués

En plus des essais d'oiseaux sauvages, la Section de contrôle des moustiques exploite également 20 stations de surveillance avec des poulets en cage dans le champ à l'échelle de l'État, du début juillet à octobre. Les poulets sentinelles sont gardés et soignés avec humanité. Les poulets sentinelles mordus par les moustiques porteurs du VNO ou de l'EEE développent des anticorps qui leur permettent de survivre, le VNO ou l'EEE affectant les humains et les chevaux, mais ne pouvant être transmis entre les chevaux ou les chevaux. Le sang de poulet de chaque station de surveillance est testé chaque semaine pour les anticorps, ce qui indique une exposition aux virus transmis par les moustiques. Le contrôle des moustiques effectue également une surveillance à l'échelle de l'État pour déterminer les types et les abondances des 19 espèces de moustiques les plus préoccupantes grâce à un réseau de 25 stations fixes de surveillance de la lumière pour les adultes et évalue les populations de moustiques larvaires en échantillonnant les habitats aquatiques. Selon la Division de la santé publique du Delaware, des vaccins approuvés contre le VNO ou l'EEE sont disponibles pour les humains. La majorité des personnes infectées par le VNO ne présenteront aucun symptôme; 20 pour cent développent une maladie légère, qui peut inclure de la fièvre, des douleurs musculaires et musculaires, des maux de tête, des nausées, des vomissements et des éruptions cutanées. Un petit nombre de personnes infectées développent une maladie grave, les jeunes enfants, les femmes enceintes, les personnes âgées et les personnes immunodéprimées étant particulièrement vulnérables. Des symptômes neurologiques, y compris la paralysie et éventuellement la mort, peuvent survenir.

Des vaccins efficaces contre l'EEE et le Nil occidental sont disponibles pour les chevaux par l'entremise des vétérinaires, selon le Veterinary Office du Delaware Department of Agriculture. Le VNO et l'EEE causent des infections graves et parfois mortelles chez les chevaux. Signs of infection in horses include fever (although not always with WNV), anorexia, head pressing, depression or personality change, wobbling or staggering, weakness, blindness, convulsions, muscle spasms in the head and neck, or hind-limb weakness. If owners notice any of these signs in their horses, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Horse owners can take several steps in the barn and around the farm to help protect horses from WNV and EEE. Horses should be kept inside during dawn and dusk, which are peak hours for mosquito activity. Topical insect repellents labeled for use on horses may be applied. The wind generated by fans installed in horse stalls can also help deter mosquitoes. Old tires and containers should be disposed of and standing water eliminated. Water troughs or buckets should be emptied, cleaned, and refilled every 2-3 days if possible to remove any mosquito eggs or larvae.

For more information about:

• Mosquito biology/ecology and control – Contact the Mosquito Control Section’s Dover office at 302-739-9917.
• Reporting WNV-suspect wild birds, or for requests for mosquito relief – For upstate areas from Dover north, contact Mosquito Control’s Glasgow field office at 302-836-2555; for downstate areas south of Dover, contact Mosquito Control’s Milford field office at 302-422-1512.
• WNV or EEE in humans and related medical issues – Contact the Delaware Division of Public Health at 888-295-5156.
• WNV or EEE in horses and equine vaccines – Contact the Department of Agriculture’s Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4500 or 800-282-8685 (Delaware only).
• For more information on West Nile virus or Eastern equine encephalitis – Visit the CDC website, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 187

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