West Nile Threat: 2 Sentinel Chickens Test Positive

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Pinellas County Mosquito Control confirmed a positive test for West Nile virus in two sentinel chickens in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Sept. 28.

One sentinel chicken that tested positive is in the Sawgrass Lake area, which borders Interstate 275 and Gandy Boulevard near Pinellas Park. The second chicken that tested positive is in the Lake Maggiore area, which is between 26th Avenue South and 54th Avenue South at the southern tip of Pinellas County.

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.

Pinellas County Mosquito Control last reported a sentinel chicken testing positive for the West Nile virus on Friday, Aug. 25 in the Walsingham area of Seminole.

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 mosquitos. As of Tuesday, Sept. 26, a total of 43 states and the District of Columbia have reported a total of 1,047 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