West Nile Virus Detected In 3 Pinellas County Sentinel Chickens

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Three chickens in one of the Pinellas County Mosquito Control Department's sentinel chicken flocks have tested positive for West Nile virus.

Florida Department of Health-Pinellas County public information officer Tom Iovino issued an advisory Thursday afternoon, alerting the public of the presence of the virus in the chickens' blood samples.

The Mosquito Control Department maintains eight sentinel chicken coops throughout the county and draws blood from the chickens once a week. The FDOH tests the blood for antibodies to viruses that are easily passed from mosquitoes to birds and vice versa, such as eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile viruses.

The mosquitoes that transmit these viruses are partial to blood from birds so Pinellas County's sentinel chickens serve as an early warning of the presence of these potentially serious viruses that can be passed on to humans, horses, dogs and other animals.

Chickens serve as ideal sentinels to alert health officials of the presence of these viruses because, while they can be infected with these viruses and produce the antibodies, they don't experience the illness and are unable to transmit the viruses to uninfected mosquitoes.

Iovino said the fact that three chickens in a single flock tested positive for the West Nile virus raises the chances that the virus can be spread to humans in Pinellas County.

"The chickens serve as an early warning for the presence of the virus," he said. "We use this information to target mosquito species of concern in areas that have circulating virus."

West Nile virus can cause mild to severe illness, according to the FDOH.

It was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and showed up in the United States in 1999 in New York, reaching Florida in 2001.

Since its initial detection, human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in all U.S. states except Alaska and Hawaii. The virus is now considered endemic in the U.S., with annual epidemics occurring in some parts of the country, peaking in the late summer months.

As of Aug. 8 this year, the virus was detected in Miami-Dade County June 7, July 18 and July 29; in Osceola County June 7; and in Sarasota County on Aug. 5.

Most West Nile virus infections (approximately 80 percent) are asymptomatic. People who do develop symptoms usually experience a mild illness called West Nile fever that includes headaches, fevers, pain and fatigue.

Less than 1 percent of infected people develop the most severe form of disease, neuroinvasive WNV, which may cause meningitis and encephalitis and can result in irreversible neurological damage, paralysis, coma or death.

People over the age of 60 and those with weakened immune systems (especially transplant recipients and HIV-infected people) are at an increased risk.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus, and most mild infections typically dissipate with little or no medical intervention within a few weeks.

Iovino said the health department will closely monitor the sentinel chickens, but reminds residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases by taking the following actions:

• Drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying. This includes draining water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used and could collect rain water that attracts mosquitoes.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet water bowls at least once or twice a week.
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don't accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated.
• Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
• Cover your skin with clothing or repellent.
• Wear shoes, socks and long pants and long sleeves if you must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
• Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
• Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone and IR3535 are effective, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents. Always read the label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent. Some repellents are not suitable for children. Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are generally recommended.
• Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old. DEET is not recommended for children younger than 2 months old.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol should not be used on children under the age of 3 years.
• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
• Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children.
• Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child's skin and clothing.
• If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing
• Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
• Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches and patios.

For more information on repellents, click here.