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<br /> Mosquito-borne '
<br /> virus due to arrive
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<br /> Human Services."The vast majority of people
<br /> Though the West Nile virus poses who get infected have no symptoms at all." West Nile virus in the United States
<br /> little risk to adults,some precautions In a study conducted in the Queens, N.Y.,
<br /> p neighborhood where the virus first surfaced No reported cases Verified avian,animal Human cases reported
<br /> are still in order,experts say and was most prevalent,researchers found that infections d mosquito
<br /> 2.6 percent of the population had been infected, WA
<br /> BY TIM CHRISTIE and only 20 percent of that group recalled hay- MT ND MN VT ME
<br /> • The Register-Guard ing symptoms,Cieslak said. OR ID NH
<br /> SD WINY
<br /> Only one in 150 people who get infected will WY Ml —MA
<br /> • With the West Nile virus expected to make develop a serious illness,he said.The disease NV NE IA PA . \\RI
<br /> its way to Oregon this summer,people should poses a more serious risk to older people,par- UT CO KS MO ii IN o WV VA\\\T
<br /> CAKY
<br /> start protecting themselves against the mosqui- titularly for those age 60 or older. TN VA w
<br /> toes that spread the disease,public health ex- A dry,warm winter is expected to spur the AZ NM OK AR SC
<br /> \DE
<br /> perts say. spread of the disease into the four Western Ms Al GA MD
<br /> At the same time,healthy adults have little states, including Oregon, where it hasn't sur- Tx to
<br /> to fear from the virus,they say. faced so far,health officials say. source:U.S.Centers Et
<br /> "The vast majority.of Oregonians, even if "It's going to be here," said Dr. Emilio for Disease Control
<br /> they did get the virus,are going to be fine,"said DeBess, the state public health veterinarian. and Prevention
<br /> Dr.Paul Cieslak,who manages the communica- '
<br /> ble disease program for the state Department of Please turn to WEST NILE,Page C2 STEPHANIE BARROW/The Register-Guard
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<br /> . THE REGISTER—GUARD CITY/REGION SUNDAY,MAY 25,2003 (),'
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<br /> West Nile: DEET products
<br /> most effective against biting bugs }
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<br /> Continued from Page CI
<br /> } WEST NILE VIRUS t
<br /> 1 "It's a disease that is going to be
<br /> here to stay. We need to learn Preventing mosquito bites can prevent West Nile virus.Insect
<br /> • how to protect ourselves against •
<br /> repellents containing DEET(N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)can •
<br /> mosquito bitesreduce the risk of getting bitten,but should be used with
<br /> caution.Reported risks Include skin reactions such as rash, S
<br /> .?r• With summer camping sea- swelling and irritation;eye irritation;and less often,slurred
<br /> . son kicking off this Memorial speech,confusion and seizures.
<br /> } Day weekend, people should For adults:Products with 10 percent to 35 percent:DEET I'.
<br /> start using insect repellents,he should provide adequate protection under most conditions.
<br /> said. •Use DEET sparingly and only on exposed skin and clothing.
<br /> r "If you're camping and going •Don't apply to skin under clothing. 1;
<br /> to be outside,use DEET on your •Wash treated skin and clothing after returning indoors. `
<br /> clothes and try to wear long For children:Don't use DEET repellent for children under age '
<br /> sleeves as much as you can," 2.Use mosquito netting or additional clothing. s:
<br /> DeBess'said. ' ♦For children 2 to 12,repellents should contain no more than '-
<br /> Products containing the 10 percent DEET,according to the American Academy of
<br /> chemical DEEP are considered Pediatrics.
<br /> t the most effective at repelling -•Don't apply DEET directly to children.Apply to your own i' •
<br /> mosquitoes, but DEET isn't hands and then put it on the child.Avoid applying on the child's !f!
<br /> I. without risks.It should be used lips,hands and eyes. k;, •
<br /> with caution, especially with 4 Wash treated skin and clothing after returning indoors. +; .
<br /> children. DEET shouldn't be ♦Store repellents out of reach 7; '
<br /> ii- used with children age 2 and ♦If you believe you or your child is having a reaction to a DEET !•
<br /> ' younger. repellent,wash the treated area Immediately and contact your . z;.; \,,
<br /> Cieslak said if he were going health care provider or the Poison Center,(800)222-1222). ji.
<br /> camping, the only precautions Other preventive measures:Wear long pants and . 1. "
<br /> he would take:Making sure ev- long-sleeved shirts during peak mosquito activity period ,such i.,
<br /> erybody wore insect repellent as dawn and dusk. !'
<br /> and making sure his tent didn't •Use mosquito netting over Infant carriers,carriages and
<br /> have any holes. playpens when outdoors.
<br /> • The single most effective ♦:Use window and door screens.
<br /> thing people can do to prevent ♦Eliminate standing water on your property,which can serve
<br /> • the virus is to eliminate stand- as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
<br /> ing water on their property so For more information:Oregon Health Services fact sheet-
<br /> mosquito larvae don't have a www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/acd/wnile/facts.htm
<br /> i • place to hatch. ♦National Pesticide Information Center—(800)$58-7378,' , . •
<br /> The virus hasn't yet been de- ♦Centers for Disease Control and Prevention— ...:
<br /> tected in Oregon, but animal www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/Indexhtm '
<br /> cases have already been report-
<br /> ed this year in six states in the
<br /> Midwest and South. said. 1:
<br /> A woman did test positive for The dry conditions foster or- s
<br /> West Nile last year in Oregon, The virus will likely ganically rich nesting areas for }'
<br /> but she had been infected in show up in bird mosquito larvae in urban drain- £. '
<br /> Michigan before traveling here. populations in Oregon age systems, Epstein said.
<br /> ' Cieslak said the virus will long before it reaches Drought also may encourage
<br /> likely show up in bird popula- humans. birds to congregate around
<br /> f, tions in Oregon long before it shrinking water fields, where '
<br /> reaches humans."Birds are the mosquitoes breed,he said. 'r,' e .
<br /> main reservoir for the virus," But Cieslak noted that influI.
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<br /> he said."Humans are incidental cases and nine deaths were re- enza at this point poses a far •
<br /> hosts." ported in 10 states.Then in 2002, greater threat to public health
<br /> The disease is spread when the disease took off,spreading to than West Nile virus. The flu
<br /> virus-laden mosquitoes sting 44 states,with 4,156 human cas- sends about 114,000 Americans
<br /> birds, who carry the virus as es and 284 deaths. to the hospital each year and
<br /> they migrate..Mosquitoes in a Drought and heat helped leads to about 20;000 deaths,ac-
<br /> - new region then pick up the vi- speed the spread last year,said cording to the federal Centers
<br /> rus from the migratory birds, Paul Epstein,associate director for Disease Control and
<br /> _ and can pass it to humans. of the Center for Health and the Prevention:
<br /> After it was fust detected in Global Environment at Harvard "If and when West Nile gets
<br /> k the United States in 1999 in New University. Because of another here, I'll be roughly as con- f'ff�
<br /> ' r- York City, West Nile virus mild winter and continuing cerned about it as I am about -
<br /> spread relatively slowly.During drought,scientists expect a sim- diseases such as E. coli," he
<br /> ' 1999,2000 and 2001, 149 human liar number of cases in 2003,he said.
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