Fw: [vhlist] West Nile Study in VH

[Milana Draughn]

Interesting data from out NOD neighbors.

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Beth Grella <bgr...@yahoo.com>
Date: March 17, 2012 8:14:32 PM EDT
To: "MidtownPar...@yahoogroups.com" <MidtownPar...@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [MidtownParents-e-mail] Fw: [vhlist] West Nile Study in VH
Reply-To: Beth Grella <bgr...@yahoo.com>

 

I thought this would be of interest to the larger group....

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Judy McCabe Smith <j.mc...@mindspring.com>
To: VHMPA VHMPA <vhmpa_cl...@lists.bigtent.com>; vhl...@yahoogroups.com; vhgroup...@lists.bigtent.com
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 10:09 AM
Subject: [vhlist] West Nile Study in VH

 

Last year we participated in an Emory University study on West Nile Virus and allowed researchers to trap birds and mosquitoes in our yard (the birds were blood sampled then released).  I just received the results, and thought others in our VH area might like to know. Also, they provided additional resources to find out more about WNV and mosquito control in Fulton County. 

They found 44% of birds with the virus but no mosquitoes with the virus.

As a note, as an avid gardener, I work intensively in our yard and the woodsy test areas behind our house. If anyone would be exposed to West Nile, it would be me, yet I have either never contracted the virus or had mild symptoms that I dismissed.

Judy

Summary Results for Summer 2011: 860 Highland Terrace

Bird Results:

Out of 34 birds trapped and blood-sampled on or around your property, 15 (44.1%) were antibody-positive for West Nile Virus (WNV).  Three of these birds were born in the summer of 2011, meaning that they was infected the same year, which indicates active WNV transmission in the area during the summer of 2011.  The other infected birds were not born in the summer of 2011 and therefore do not necessarily represent 2011 infections, because a once-infected bird will show positive antibodies for the rest of its life.

Mosquito Results:

Mosquito Species	Total Females Collected	Characteristic Breeding Habitat	Human Biter?	Percent Positive for WNV
Aedes albopictus	1	Artificial containers	Yes	0%
Culex quinquefasciatus	101	Containers, catch basins, retention & detention ponds	Yes	0%

   

As shown in the table above, none of the mosquitoes in your yard were WNV-positive.  We did not find any WNV-positive mosquitoes in the yards in your immediate area either.

The primary female mosquito captured was Culex quinquefasciatus, and it is also our primary vector for WNV in Atlanta.  This mosquito lays its eggs in such things as birdbaths, gutters, tires, flower pots, and any other container that holds water for at least a week.  This mosquito bites at dusk.  It feeds primarily on birds, but it will also bite mammals (including humans).  The best way to control this species is to dump out or treat* standing water and to cut back heavy vegetation where the mosquito will rest during the day when not out biting. 

The Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness (http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/west-nile-virus) is responsible for mosquito control in your area.  If you would like to speak with someone from the department of health or request a FREE mosquito assessment of your property, please call 404-730-1301. 

Even though WNV-positive mosquitoes and/or birds were trapped on or around your property, please do not worry: your risk of infection is still less than 1% and most people who do become infected have no symptoms or experience mild flu-like symptoms.  To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease, remember to wear insect repellent when outside. 

For more information about insect repellents, link to these Web sites:

CDC: Updated Information Regarding Insect Repellents
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm

CDC: Insect Repellent Use and Safety
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/insect_repellent.htm

For more information about WNV, link to these Web sites:

            CDC: West Nile Virus

            http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness: West Nile Virus

http://www.fultoncountyga.gov/west-nile-virus

* Two larvicides are available for treating standing water, PreStrike (methoprene) and Mosquito Dunks (Bti).  Both are available from stores such as Lowes and Home Depot.  Hand-held foggers can also be used to reduce biting populations of mosquitoes, but this solution is temporary and needs to be followed up with good source reduction (removing breeding sites) and larviciding.

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