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<br /> ~I <br /> <br /> i LANE COUNTY <br /> ~ GOVERNMENT <br /> <br /> 'i VISI LANE COVNTY ONLINE AT <br /> <br /> i tITTP .LANECOI~NTY.OR6 NEWS <br /> For ~ Trent neWS and archives <br /> For Im ediate Release 8/13/04 <br /> WEST ILE VIRYS DETECTED IN BIRD IN EASTERN OREGON -LANE <br /> COYN PYBLIC HEALTH REMINDS CITIZENS TO PROTECT <br /> THE ELVES FROM MOSQYITO BITES <br /> Contac • Tamara Wilhite, Public Health, 682.3497 <br /> <br /> ~I A lab c nfirmed yesterday the West Nile virus in a Malheur County, Oregon bird (crow). <br /> Malheu County is 12 miles from the Idaho border, making Oregon the last continental <br /> U.S. sta e to acquire the presence of the virus. Testing was completed by Veterinary <br /> Diagno tics Lab at Oregon State University. <br /> <br /> ~I <br /> Lane C unty Pubic Health is reminding the public to protect themselves from mosquito <br /> bites an to clear mosquito breeding sources from their property. <br /> "It was nevitable that West Nile virus would eventually be found in Oregon," said Betsy <br /> Meredit ,Lane County communicable disease nursing supervisor. "It is important to be <br /> pragma 'c about this development. Take precautions and protect yourself and your family <br /> from m squito bites. At the same time, remember that most human West Nile virus <br /> illnesse are asymptomatic or mild, resulting in flu-like symptoms. Only one person in <br /> five wh tests positive for WNv remembers having been ill. One in 200 infected people <br /> progres to encephalitis (brain inflammation). Those who are elderly or ill are most at <br /> risk. Be ause this disease is new to us, people sometimes react in fear. The reality is that <br /> we live n environments where there are diseases, such as the flu, with higher death rates. <br /> We are sed to hearing about them and so don't have the same reaction as we do to a new <br /> disease. <br /> Lane C unty Government 125 E. 8'~, Eugene, Oregon 97401 <br /> 541.68 .3747 <br /> <br />