Sentinel Chicken Tests Positive For West Nile

SEMINOLE, FL – Pinellas County Mosquito Control confirmed a positive test for West Nile virus in a sentinel chicken in the Walsingham area of Seminole on Friday, Aug. 25.

Technicians responded with treatment targeting adult mosquitoes and larvae by air and by ground in the area. This is in addition to the county’s ongoing treatment efforts.

The Walsingham area is in the north end of Seminole, bordering Ulmerton Road to the north and Indian Rocks Beach to the west.

Pinellas County uses sentinel chickens to serve as an early-warning detection system for some mosquito-borne diseases. They can signal disease-carrying mosquitoes are present.

By using the chickens, Mosquito Control can be alerted to the presence of West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Highlands J Virus. Mosquito Control placed sentinel chickens in eight locations around the county where they are tested weekly.

West Nile virus produces no symptoms in about 70 to 80 percent of people infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people, however, can develop such symptoms fever, rash, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting and diarrhea. In less than 1 percent of those infected severe symptoms may develop. The infection may lead to encephalitis or meningitis, which is an inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissue, the CDC says. Of those who develop severe complications about 10 percent die.

The CDC tracks the number of West Nile virus infections logged across the country in people, birds and mosquitoes. As of Tuesday, Aug. 22, a total of 45 states and the District of Columbia have reported West Nile Virus infections in 2017. No human cases had been reported in Florida.

To protection themselves from mosquitoes, Pinellas County urged residents and visitors by staying indoors during peak hours of mosquito activity at dawn and dusk. The county also recommends to use approved mosquito repellants and ensure screens and seals are intact around windows and doors.

Residents also are used to stay on top of getting rid of standing water on their properties to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one quarter inch of standing water.

For more information about stopping mosquitoes, visit www.pinellascounty.org/resident/mosquito_control.htm. Mosquito control request forms also are available on the web page.

Residents can also contact Pinellas County Mosquito Control at (727) 464-7503 or through the Pinellas County Doing Things for You app.

Editor Sherri Lonon contributed to this report

Image via U.S. Department of Agriculture, Flickr, used under Creative Commons