West Nile Virus arrives in Mille Lacs County

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 8/1/02

The West Nile Virus (WNV) has been identified in two dead crows in Minnesota, one from Wahkon in Mille Lacs County and the other from Golden Valley in Hennepin County.

The birds were sent to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) where they tested positive for the deadly virus.

On Wednesday, July 10, Mille Lacs County Public Health was contacted by the City of Wahkon stating it had found a crow which appeared to be diseased and not moving.

Because the bird had no apparent acute trauma, the bird was sent to MDH. On Wednesday, July 24, Mille Lacs County received confirmation that the crow had the virus.

Most people infected with the WNV either have no symptoms or a very mild illness. A small percentage of people, usually elderly patients, may develop encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Approximately 13 percent of these encephalitis cases become fatal.

There is a vaccine for horses, but there is no human vaccine for WNV.

Since 1999, 152 cases of WNV-related encephalitis have been reported, with 18 fatalities.

There are measures people can take to prevent WNV.

ïUse mosquito repellents (with DEET, if possible).

ïAvoid outdoor exposure at dusk and dawn.

ïWear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

ïRemove water-holding containers.

If you find dead birds during the summer months, which have no apparent cause of death, report them to the Minnesota Department of Health at 612-676-5414 or toll fee at 1-877-676-5414.

There are two websites with information on WNV: www.health.state.mn.us and www.cdc.gov.

"Itís a very small percentage of a person being infected with it, smaller than one percent. They could contract any
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other type of disease from the mosquito more than the WNV," said Mille Lacs County Public Health Director Kay Keimig.

Keimig suggests taking normal precautions, such as changing bird baths regularly, not leaving water standing around, vaccinating horses, and using common sense in protecting yourself.

"This is a serious, potentially fatal illness, and we donít want to underplay its significance," Minnesota State Epidemiologist Dr. Harry Hull said.

"However, the odds that youíll be bitten by an infected mosquito are very low. And even if you are bitten by a mosquito that carries the virus, itís unlikely that youíll become seriously ill. Most of the time, people donít even experience any symptoms."