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West Nile Virus
- Thread starter Pyro
- Start date
New news from the world of microbiology. WNV has been found in Aedes mosquitoes in Maryland. This raises the concern for us CP growers because these are the mosquitoes that tend to breed in water trays.
Not the best pic but it gives you an idea
Here is the full report I got from my Emerging Infectious disease newsletter:
HEALTH ALERT
- ----------------------
DAYTIME MOSQUITOES NOW CARRY WEST NILE VIRUS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLEASE
DISTRIBUTE ALERT WIDELY
Contact: Carol Jordan
The Asian Tiger mosquito [_Aedes albopictus_] has been found to be carrying
the West Nile virus in Montgomery County. This is the first such occurrence
of positive Asian Tiger mosquitoes in Maryland this season and the first
ever in Montgomery County.
This discovery carries a greater health risk for humans since the Asian
Tiger mosquito is [active] during the day and tends to bite only humans,
not birds or animals. [The fear seems to be the possibility of the
establishment of a human-mosquito-human cycle of infection. Would any
entomologist reading this care to comment? - Mod.JW]
These mosquitoes were found in traps located in Bethesda on Fri 9 Aug 2002.
Until now, only the Culex mosquito, which is [active] at night, has been
shown to transmit West Nile Virus to humans.
There have been no reported human cases to date of West Nile virus
[infection] in Montgomery County. More than 50 birds have tested positive
in the County and about 2000 sightings of dead birds have been reported to
the state's call-in line (1-866-866-2769). This is the first time
Montgomery County has ever documented any positive mosquitoes in its traps.
The Asian Tiger mosquito has been shown in studies at Fort Detrick to be
the most efficient and effective transmitter of the disease to humans. Last
year [West Nile virus-]positive Asian Tiger mosquitoes were found only in
Baltimore City. Asian Tiger mosquitoes are smaller than other mosquitoes
and have distinctive black-and-white stripes [a coloration they share with
the yellow fever and dengue mosquito _Aedes aegypti_ - Mod.JW]
Be advised:
1. Asian Tiger mosquitoes are backyard container [breeding] mosquitoes. If
they are present in your neighborhood, efforts at source reduction are
needed, that is, remove any standing water from your yard and encourage
your neighbors to do the same.
2. The fact that Asian Tiger mosquitoes have tested positive elevates the
potential human health risk of contracting the disease -- because they are
out during the day and they prefer to bite humans.
3. Reduction of the Asian Tiger mosquito population needs to be aimed at
removal of standing water -- [puddles under] leaky outdoor faucets, clogged
gutters, wading pools, bird baths, potted plants, and other containers that
hold water for longer than a week.
4. Spraying is largely ineffective for this type of mosquito because there
needs to be large numbers of the mosquitoes in a concentrated area. This is
not the case in Montgomery County.
5. Because Asian Tiger mosquitoes [usually] fly no more than 300 yards from
the containers where they are hatched, the most effective method of
controlling them is to remove or drain all containers where they can breed.
[Removal is best, because if emptied they tend to fill up again with the
next rain or leak. - Mod.JW]
West nile virus brochures are available at all county libraries. For more
information on the disease, personal protective measures, and source
reduction of mosquitoes, please call the state information line at 1-866
866-2769.
If you need additional information please call the county's disease control
office at 240 777-1755 or refer to the following web sites:
< http://mosquito.askdp.com>
<www.edcp.org>
Not the best pic but it gives you an idea
Here is the full report I got from my Emerging Infectious disease newsletter:
HEALTH ALERT
- ----------------------
DAYTIME MOSQUITOES NOW CARRY WEST NILE VIRUS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLEASE
DISTRIBUTE ALERT WIDELY
Contact: Carol Jordan
The Asian Tiger mosquito [_Aedes albopictus_] has been found to be carrying
the West Nile virus in Montgomery County. This is the first such occurrence
of positive Asian Tiger mosquitoes in Maryland this season and the first
ever in Montgomery County.
This discovery carries a greater health risk for humans since the Asian
Tiger mosquito is [active] during the day and tends to bite only humans,
not birds or animals. [The fear seems to be the possibility of the
establishment of a human-mosquito-human cycle of infection. Would any
entomologist reading this care to comment? - Mod.JW]
These mosquitoes were found in traps located in Bethesda on Fri 9 Aug 2002.
Until now, only the Culex mosquito, which is [active] at night, has been
shown to transmit West Nile Virus to humans.
There have been no reported human cases to date of West Nile virus
[infection] in Montgomery County. More than 50 birds have tested positive
in the County and about 2000 sightings of dead birds have been reported to
the state's call-in line (1-866-866-2769). This is the first time
Montgomery County has ever documented any positive mosquitoes in its traps.
The Asian Tiger mosquito has been shown in studies at Fort Detrick to be
the most efficient and effective transmitter of the disease to humans. Last
year [West Nile virus-]positive Asian Tiger mosquitoes were found only in
Baltimore City. Asian Tiger mosquitoes are smaller than other mosquitoes
and have distinctive black-and-white stripes [a coloration they share with
the yellow fever and dengue mosquito _Aedes aegypti_ - Mod.JW]
Be advised:
1. Asian Tiger mosquitoes are backyard container [breeding] mosquitoes. If
they are present in your neighborhood, efforts at source reduction are
needed, that is, remove any standing water from your yard and encourage
your neighbors to do the same.
2. The fact that Asian Tiger mosquitoes have tested positive elevates the
potential human health risk of contracting the disease -- because they are
out during the day and they prefer to bite humans.
3. Reduction of the Asian Tiger mosquito population needs to be aimed at
removal of standing water -- [puddles under] leaky outdoor faucets, clogged
gutters, wading pools, bird baths, potted plants, and other containers that
hold water for longer than a week.
4. Spraying is largely ineffective for this type of mosquito because there
needs to be large numbers of the mosquitoes in a concentrated area. This is
not the case in Montgomery County.
5. Because Asian Tiger mosquitoes [usually] fly no more than 300 yards from
the containers where they are hatched, the most effective method of
controlling them is to remove or drain all containers where they can breed.
[Removal is best, because if emptied they tend to fill up again with the
next rain or leak. - Mod.JW]
West nile virus brochures are available at all county libraries. For more
information on the disease, personal protective measures, and source
reduction of mosquitoes, please call the state information line at 1-866
866-2769.
If you need additional information please call the county's disease control
office at 240 777-1755 or refer to the following web sites:
< http://mosquito.askdp.com>
<www.edcp.org>
