2008 Archive

Fight the Bite

Protection from West Nile Virus

The return of summer and warmer weather to the Edmonton area also means the arrival of mosquitoes and the possibility of contracting West Nile Virus.  Some mosquitoes are known carriers of West Nile, an infection which is spread when mosquitoes bite an infected bird, then bite a human.  People can take precautions to reduce their risk of infection.

"The number of people affected by West Nile Virus in this region (rate is still high in southern Alberta) has been low in the last few years but residents still need to use common sense and avoid peak mosquito time periods to minimize the chance of bites and protect themselves against infection," says Nelson Fok, Associate Director, Environmental Public Health.

Approximately, 80 per cent of individuals who become infected with West Nile Virus experience no symptoms, and 15 to 20 per cent may experience  symptoms such as fever, headache and possibly a rash.  Less than one in 150 infected individuals will experience the more severe form of the illness known as West Nile Neurological Syndrome, which can leave individuals with a range of long-term health effects.  The elderly, chronically ill and those with weakened immune systems are more at risk of becoming seriously ill.

The following precautions are recommended to reduce the risk of infection from
West Nile Virus:

• Stay indoors during the peak mosquito times of dusk and dawn.
• Wear light-coloured clothing that covers skin.
• Avoid scented grooming products such as hair spray and perfume.
• Use a repellant with DEET or other approved ingredients and re-apply when necessary.
• To prevent over-application, parents should apply a repellant with DEET or other approved ingredients to children.  For children two to 12 years of age, the concentration of DEET should not exceed 10 per cent.  For infants six months to two years, do not use more than one application of 10 per cent DEET.  Do not use DEET on infants under six months.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after applying repellant.
• Avoid touching dead birds with bare hands.  Some birds, particularly crows and magpies, can be carriers of West Nile Virus.
• Avoid or eliminate sources of standing water on your property where mosquitoes may lay eggs, such as buckets, wading pools and unused tires.