Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeWednesday, Jun. 24, 2009
Tests confirm W. Richland mosquitoes carry Nile virus
By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer
WEST RICHLAND -- Mosquitoes in West Richland have tested positive for the West Nile virus -- the first confirmation of the virus in Benton County this year.
The Benton County Mosquito Control District was notified Tuesday by Oregon State University, where samples are sent for testing, said Susan Shelton with the Benton-Franklin Health District.
"This report of West Nile virus activity in local mosquitoes the first week of summer is a timely reminder that each of us needs to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and a warning that we will likely have a long season to prevent illness from the virus this year," she said.
The confirmation comes less than a week after the virus was detected in 10 mosquito samples in Yakima County near the Benton County border.
The first positive report of the virus in the state came in early June in a another sample taken near the Benton and Yakima county border. The positive test was a month earlier than the first positive mosquitoes found in Benton County last year.
Tuesday's announcement came as the Benton County Mosquito Control District launched its eradication program through aerial spraying and ground-based fogging.
Aerial applications were planned for Tuesday in West Richland, Richland and Kennewick, while motorized fogging machines were scheduled in Benton City along North River Road, Overlook and Demoss roads and the area including Wagon Wheel, Sunrise and Trinity roads.
Fogging also is planned for the Byron Ponds, Byron and South Ward Gap roads in Prosser.
Fogging, which is occurs only between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., and aerial spraying would not be done if the wind is blowing more than 10 mph.
Daily schedules for spraying and fogging can be found at www.mosquitocontrol.org and following the link under the heading, "Information."
Shelton said avoiding mosquitoes is the best way to prevent West Nile virus.
She advises draining all areas of standing water weekly so mosquitoes don't have a place to lay their eggs. People also should wear long sleeves, pants and a hat when mosquitoes are around, use screens on all doors and windows, and use insect repellents.
Learn more about West Nile virus at the health district's West Nile website at www.bfhd.wa.gov/wnv.
West Nile has been present in the United States since 1999, and in Washington state since 2005. Benton County saw its first infected birds and horses last year.
Birds carry the disease and mosquitoes pick it up when they bite birds. Then mosquitoes pass it on to horses or humans through bites.
Most people who become infected show no symptoms. But up to 20 percent of those infected could suffer from a fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash.
About 1 in 150 infected people may develop more severe symptoms that last several weeks and cause permanent neurological damage or death. People over 50 are more likely to develop severe symptoms.
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