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Public Health
Seattle & King County
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Seattle, WA 98104
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| West Nile virus likely in King County in 2005, Public Health says |
| Thursday, April 21, 2005 |
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| One of Little Bit's horses gets a West Nile vaccine as a TV crew looks on. |
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, Public Health – Seattle & King County announced that King County can expect to see cases of West Nile virus this summer, given that the mosquito-borne virus infected people in surrounding states in 2004. In 2002, Pierce, Snohomish, and other Washington counties had cases of West Nile virus in birds.
“West Nile virus was waiting at our borders last year, though we were fortunate to be the only state in the lower 48 without cases,” said Dr. Sharon Hopkins, Public Health veterinarian for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “We may not be so lucky this year so we all need to take steps to avoid harboring mosquitoes and getting bitten.”
Dr. Hopkins joined Kathy Alm, Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Woodinville, where the horses were given booster vaccinations for West Nile virus. “West Nile virus is a threat to horses as well as people, and the vaccinations help our horses stay safe. We serve people with disabilities who rely on us for essential therapy that only horses can provide, so we owe it to them as well as our horses to do everything we can to prevent West Nile virus.”
Protect yourself from mosquitoes
Dr. Hopkins added that while there is no human vaccination, people can protect themselves from West Nile virus by taking simple steps to avoid being bitten, such as:
- Remove standing water near your home
- Repair screens on windows and doors
- Wear clothing with full coverage when mosquitoes are biting
- Use an insect repellent to keep from being bitten
Dr. Hopkins also discussed how people can report dead crows and other birds to Public Health. A small percentage of reported crows will be tested for West Nile virus, but Public Health’s emphasis is on recording where the dead birds were found. A spike in bird deaths may indicate that West Nile virus has arrived, and possibly the areas of the county where the virus is circulating.
Not all mosquito species that live in King County are capable of carrying the West Nile virus, and not all capable carriers are infected. The mosquito of biggest concern is Culex pipiens, or the northern house mosquito.
Culex pipiens prefers to lay eggs in small amounts of standing water commonly found around houses in buckets, wheelbarrows, clogged drains and discarded tires. Removing this habitat will reduce the number of mosquitoes near people’s homes.
Tips for reducing habitat and preparing the home:
- Tip out barrels, buckets and wheelbarrows
- Tip out containers such as toys, cans or plant saucers
- Empty children’s wading pools when not in use
- Change water in birdbaths and animal troughs at least once a week
- Get rid of used tires
- Clean garden ponds
- Recycle old bottles, buckets and cans
- Clean leaf-clogged gutters
- Empty water from flower pot dishes
- Dump water off of tarps and plastic sheeting
- Repair leaky outdoor faucets
- Cover rain barrels with mosquito screens
- Repair ripped windows and door screens and make sure they fit tight
- Consider adding a screen door to doors that often are left open
Tips to avoid getting bitten when mosquitoes are out – often at dawn and dusk:
- Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants.
- Consider using an insect repellent. The CDC recommends repellents containing the chemical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), which are known to be very effective and safe for use with children and adults. It is important to read the label and follow the instructions on the label carefully.
- Long lasting and effective alternatives to products containing DEET are available. Insect repellents containing Picaridin may be a good choice for some individuals.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. A mosquito becomes infected by biting an infected bird that carries the virus. West Nile virus is not spread by person-to-person contact, nor is it transmitted directly from birds or other animals to people. Mosquito season, when West Nile virus is of most concern, runs from spring through late fall.
Though West Nile virus is primarily a bird disease, it is frequently fatal in horses. When people become infected, about 20% experience an illness with mild-to-severe flu-like symptoms. In a small number of cases, infected people have more serious neurological illnesses such encephalitis or meningitis. The majority of people bitten by infected mosquitoes do not experience any symptoms.
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center provides therapy for children and adults with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, using horses’ soothing rhythm, warmth, and movement pattern to improve circulation and muscle tone. Learning to ride also provides students with emotional satisfaction, who gain self-esteem and a feeling of accomplishment. Little Bit is one of the largest therapeutic riding centers in the country, serving almost 200 students each week with a horse stable of 18.
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