West Nile Threat: Another Sentinel Chicken Tests Positive

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Pinellas County Mosquito Control confirmed a positive test for West Nile virus in a sentinel chicken in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

The sentinel chicken was located in the Cross Bayou area of St. Petersburg. Cross Bayou is the waterway west of Park Street North and east of Seminole Lake Country Club.

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 last reported sentinel chickens testing positive for the West Nile virus on Thursday, Sept. 28. One was in the Sawgrass Lake area near Pinellas Park while the other was in the Lake Maggiore area, which is the southern tip of Pinellas County.

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, Oct. 10, a total of 45 states and the District of Columbia have reported a total of 1,295 West Nile Virus infections in 2017. One human case has 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 using 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.

Patch Editor Sherri Lonon contributed to this report

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