State agencies prepare for West Nile virus

JEROME - Nobody likes being bitten by a mosquito and outdoorsmen and horse owners have a good reason to avoid them - West Nile virus. This year, the first case of West Nile virus was found in Idaho six weeks earlier than last year. Locally, several magpies from Gooding County along with a horse in Elmore County have tested positive for the virus in 2006. The virus can be passed onto people, pets, horses, birds and other wildlife through a mosquito bite. Most people exposed to the virus will not get sick or will experience mild flu-like symptoms but on rare occasions, people can die from complications connected to the virus. The key to minimizing exposure to mosquitoes is to eliminate as many stagnant water sources as possible. Places to check for standing water include: - Rain gutters, flat roof tops, all outdoor garbage containers, and any other areas that could hold water - Drain old tires, truck beds, and buckets, fix leaks in irrigation equipment, clear drains and empty unused water troughs - Repair potholes in roads and keep grass areas trimmed The best things people can do to protect themselves is to avoid mosquito bites. Before heading outside think about following these steps: 1. Apply insect repellent containing DEET. The more DEET a repellent contains, the longer it will protect you from mosquito bites. However, DEET concentrations higher than 50 percent do not increase the length of protection. 2. Be careful in applying insect repellent to children. Don't put repellent on their hands and avoid their mouths and eyes. It's best to use products with 10 percent DEET or less for children between the ages of 2 and 12. 3. Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves shirts, long pants, and socks when outdoors. 4. Spray clothing with repellents containing DEET or permethrin because mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. 5. Consider staying indoors in the morning or late evening as this is peak mosquito biting time. Avoid going where mosquitoes are plentiful. 6. Fix or install window and door screens to keep mosquitoes out of buildings. For more information on safe use of insect repellants, visit http://www.cdc.gov/westnile Fore more information on DEET and other pesticides, visit http://www.epa.gov/pesticides or http://npic.orst.edu State agencies are still monitoring wildlife populations for the virus. Dead magpies, ravens, crows, jays, and raptors are frequently an early warning sign that mosquitoes in the area are carrying West Nile virus. If you observe that a wild animal or bird has died due to a suspicious cause and has been dead less than 24 hours, it can be delivered to your local Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game Regional Office for testing. Domestic animals can be tested by your District Health Department. People will be asked to place the dead animal in a double-wrapped plastic bag and keep them in a cool place until delivery to the sample site. Remember - always wear latex or rubber gloves when handling any potential sample. For more information, call 324-4359.