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  • Horses, as seen in this file photo, are highly vulnerable to West Nile Virus. The virus was recently found in test pools in Daviess County. Kelly Overton

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July 19, 2012

Mosquitoes test positive for West Nile Virus

By Andrea McCann Washington Times-Herald

WASHINGTON — A pool of mosquitoes found on the west end of Washington near the sewer plant tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV), according to environmental health specialist Geoff Stoner of the Daviess County Health Department.

“Right now the state is about three weeks ahead of the date the first infestation was found last year, so the intensity of transmission will likely increase,” he said.

WNV can be transmitted to humans and other animals — horses are particularly vulnerable — by an infected female Culex mosquito, which typically gets its blood meal from birds and is considered less of a threat to humans and animals. They pick up the virus by biting an infected bird, and dead birds are often a sign the virus is active in an area.

“People think there are not very many mosquitoes this year because the nuisance ones aren’t out, but the Culex are prevalent,” Stoner said. “It doesn’t have to be rainy.”

The positive pool was discovered in a random sampling done by the state Department of Health, Stoner said. He said they continually monitor throughout the summer months. They also monitor for St. Louis encephalitis and eastern equine encephalitis, he said.

“When we received the information on the positive pool, I contacted the city and they increased spraying immediately to help knock the population down,” he said.

Stoner said people should still use precautions, such as wearing light-colored, long clothing — especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active — and using a repellent. Though anything that helps keep the mosquitoes at bay is useful, a repellent containing DEET is preferable.

“DEET has been known to have positive results,” he said.

Culex mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, live 10-14 days and are weak fliers, so they don’t go more than a mile or so from their breeding ground. Stoner said anything holding water — bucket, flower pot, watering can — should be emptied to eliminate potential breeding grounds.

“They’re called container breeders,” he said.

In the case of a bird bath or pet watering bowls, he said, just change the water frequently and avoid letting it sit for several days.

“They usually will not breed in moving water, so if you can circulate it, they won’t breed in it,” Stoner added.

Dr. John Royal of Royal Veterinary Clinic, Odon, said horse owners who tend to keep adding water to troughs and tanks should clean them out occasionally to make sure there are no larvae in them.

“Some people have gone to the extreme to use goldfish in tanks,” he said, explaining they eat the larvae. “Little sunfish from a local pond works better.

“A swimming pool chlorine tablet works well provided the tank is big enough the chlorine doesn’t overwhelm the taste of the water.

“The big thing is obviously to vaccinate them if they’re not and to remove standing water.”

Royal said horses can be vaccinated at any time, but he recommends late spring to early summer so they have good immunity through fall without requiring a booster. He said there are a lot of different vaccines: just WNV or a four- or five-way vaccine that includes WNV.

The veterinarian said weanlings and horses not previously vaccinated need an initial vaccine and a booster three weeks later. After that, an annual vaccine is all that’s necessary. New horse owners who aren’t sure what their animal has been vaccinated for should go ahead and have it boostered.

“Better safe than sorry,” Royal said. “It’s an easily preventable disease, but unfortunately not everyone does it. I encourage everyone to vaccinate their horses.”

He said symptoms usually don’t show up in equine until August, September or October. Symptoms are neurological, he said, and include stumbling, getting down and not being able to get back up, disorientation, circling, and pressing the head against a wall as if it has a headache.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about four out of five humans contracting WNV won’t show symptoms. Up to 20 percent of people may have fever, headache, body aches, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a rash. Symptoms may last a few days to several weeks. About one in 150 people will develop serious symptoms, which may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Neurological effects may be permanent.

Currently, no human or equine cases have been reported in Indiana, although 13 counties have had positive mosquito pools. Stoner said WNV has been found in a total of 25 out 566 samples throughout the state.

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