County Health Officials Urge Athletes, Fans to Protect Against West Nile Virus

As local sporting teams gear up for upcoming outdoor athletic events, coaches and parents are advised to protect themselves and team members from mosquito bites that can cause West Nile Virus.

Locally, the number of human cases of the virus has increased to eight as of Tuesday, according to a news release from the Oakland County Health Department.

Mosquitoes that are known to transmit the West Nile Virus are most active from dusk to dawn. However, they may also be active during the day in wooded and shaded areas. Long sleeve shirts and long pants provide some protection; in addition people should use insect repellent on exposed skin.

Residents are encouraged to take the following steps to avoid West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses: 

• Keep screens in windows and doors.
• Empty water from mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, unused kiddie pools, old tires or similar sites where mosquitoes lay eggs.
• Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
• Apply insect repellents that contain the active ingredient DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or other EPA-approved repellents to exposed skin or clothing, always following the manufacturer's directions for use.

Most people bitten by an infected mosquito show no symptoms of illness.

However, some become sick three to 15 days after exposure. About one in five infected persons will have mild illness with fever. About one in 150 infected people will become severely ill.

Symptoms of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord and brain linings) include stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, convulsions and paralysis.

People 50 and older are more susceptible to severe WNV disease symptoms. Physicians are urged to test patients for WNV if they present with fever and signs of meningitis or encephalitis, or sudden painless paralysis in the absence of stroke in the summer months.

For more information, visit the Oakland County Health Division website at www.oakgov.com/health.

Source: Oakland County Health Division