Protect yourself and family from West Nile virus

With spring and summer come warmer days, more moisture and a potential threat we’ve come to know well in El Paso County – West Nile virus. Normally, at this time of year, our Health Department experts would start to treat standing water on public property so that mosquito larvae couldn’t grow. We also would prepare to collect dead birds and trap mosquitoes to test them for the presence of West Nile virus in our county.But it’s important to know that this year, the Health Department will not be able to respond to complaints about standing water, will not collect dead birds for testing and will not be monitoring or reducing mosquito populations. This change is because of Health Department budget cuts.The Health Department will, however, continue to monitor West Nile virus cases in human populations and empower you with information to protect yourself and your family. In fact, you can make a big difference in your own safety with a few key steps:Drain standing water: If you own larger tracts of land, you’re probably aware of areas that tend to collect rainwater or runoff. Drain what you can and put “larvacide” into water you can’t drain, such as stock tanks and small ponds. Lakes and other bodies of water large enough to have regular wave action and/or contain fish are less likely to harbor mosquito larvae. But if in doubt, drain it or treat it.Larvacide is available in several forms, including easy-to-apply “doughnuts” at most garden and home improvement stores.Be sure to drain water that might accumulate in these areas:

• ponding areas from your sprinkler system
• tire storage and tire landfills
• neglected or abandoned swimming pools
• bird baths, pet dishes, flower pots and ornamental ponds
• clogged house gutters

Personal protection:Be sure to practice the four Ds. I’ve already mentioned “drain,” so here are the others:DUSK/DAWN: Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.DRESS: Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants to prevent mosquito bites.DEET: Use a mosquito repellant with DEET.About dead birds: The Health Department will not collect and test dead birds for West Nile virus this year. If you find dead birds on your property, it’s best to dispose of them properly. There is no evidence that you could contract West Nile virus from a dead bird, but it’s best to wear gloves and handle the bird as little as possible, as you double-bag it in plastic and place it in a trash receptacle.For horse owners: It’s important to keep your horses vaccinated. As you may remember, 61 horses were infected with West Nile virus in 2003. West Nile virus is potentially life threatening to horses, but horses cannot give it to other animals or people.The Health Department is committed to providing you with information to keep yourself safe. For guidance on how to use larvacide on standing water to reduce mosquito populations or for other information, please visit our Web site, www.elpasocountyhealth.org or call 719-578-8635.

H1N1 flu circulating during summer: prevention is keyFor the first time, we have a flu virus (the novel H1N1 flu) circulating in El Paso County and Colorado during the summer months, along with West Nile virus and other summertime illnesses.West Nile virus is not spread person to person; people get it from the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness and body aches, occasionally a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) and swollen lymph glands.The novel H1N1 flu is a respiratory illness. It is spread person to person through sneezing, coughing and contaminated hands. Symptoms include fever, body aches, coughing, tiredness, diarrhea and/or vomiting.H1N1 flu prevention methods are different from those for West Nile virus (see adjoining story). To protect yourself and your family from H1N1 flu: Make sure that anyone in your family with a fever of 100 degrees or higher stays home for seven days or for 24 hours after symptoms are gone. Wash your hands properly and frequently. Cover coughs and sneezes – cough into your sleeve. Avoid others with respiratory illness. If you have symptoms of H1N1 flu, West Nile virus or other summertime illnesses and are concerned about your symptoms, contact your health care provider. Antibiotics don’t help with viruses, but H1N1 flu may respond to antiviral medications, subject to your health care provider’s guidance.