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	The West Nile Virus is a virus carried by mosquitoes that can cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain) in people and animals. It has been spreading westward since it first appeared in New York in 1999 (migratory birds are considered one of the main reasons the virus is transported to new areas). The West Nile Virus occurs most in late summer or early fall. WNV Information for Horse Owners WNV Media Resources WNV Medical Resources WNV Public Resources WNV Patient Resources Practices to Reduce the Risk of West Nile Virus Frequently Asked Questions What is the West Nile Virus How do you get the West Nile Virus? Who is at risk? What are the symptoms? Can you get West Nile Virus from another person or animal? Should I be concerned about my mosquito bite? What can be done to reduce the risk of getting the West Nile Virus? What should I do if my animal(s) get the West Nile Virus? Should I be worried about hunting and getting the West Nile Virus? Should I report sighting of dead bird(s) in my area? DEET and How to Use it Safely West Nile Virus Materials (pdf) Home, Garden, and Neighborhood Maintenance Checklist "Fight the Bite" brochure Fight the Bite Graphics Protecting Outdoor Workers, fact sheet Protecting Your Family - Use A Repellent, fact sheet Links to Other Sites Report a dead bird. California West Nile Virus Home U.S.F.D.A. - Information about WNV and blood safety Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District CDC Questions and Answers on WNV Frequently Asked Questions on West Nile Virus What is the West Nile Virus? The West Nile Virus has been spreading westward since it first appeared in New York in 1999 (migratory birds are considered one of the main reasons the virus is transported to new areas). It is a virus carried by mosquitoes that can cause encephalitis (swelling of the brain) in people and animals. The West Nile Virus occurs most in late summer or early fall. How do you get the West Nile Virus? People can become infected with the West Nile Virus after being bitten by an infected mosquito (not all mosquitoes are infected with the virus). Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on birds that carry the West Nile Virus. When an infected mosquito bites a person or animal the virus may be injected into that person or animal, where it multiplies, and may cause illness. Besides some mosquitoes as the primary means of transmitting WNV, additional uncommon routes of infection have become apparent to scientists during the 2002 West Nile epidemic. It is important to note that these other methods of transmission represent a very small proportion of cases, with some mosquitoes causing the vast majority of WNV cases. These rare routes of WNV include: transplanted organs, blood transfusion, breastfeeding, transplacental (mother-to-child while pregnant), and laboratory workers. Who is at risk? If you live in an area where West Nile Virus activity has been identified you are at risk of getting the virus. People who are older then 50 years of age have a higher risk of becoming the more severely ill from the virus. What are the symptoms of the West Nile Virus? When people become infected with the virus they often show no symptoms, and have no lasting effects. However, in a small proportion of people symptoms may appear 3 to 15 days after a mosquito bite. Most people with symptoms recover from the virus completely with in two weeks. About 10% of symptomatic cases are fatal (ending in death). Fatal cases are more common in people greater than 50 years of age compared to younger age groups. When West Nile Virus causes more serious illness, it takes the form of brain infection (encephalitis) or infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (viral meningitis). Many other viruses and other microorganisms (germs) can cause encephalitis or viral meningitis. So, it can be important to determine the cause because treatment may be different for each one. Symptoms of mild West Nile Virus (or other virus) may include: Fever Headache Body aches Occasional skin rash Swollen lymph glands Symptoms of viral meningitis or encephalitis (from any cause) may include: Severe headache High fever Stiff neck Disorientation (confusion) Coma Tremors (the shakes) Muscle weakness Paralysis (unable to move certain parts of the body) If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of viral meningitis or encephalitis see your doctor immediately. Can you get the West Nile Virus from another person or animal? No. You cannot get the West Nile Virus from a person or from an animal. Also, you cannot get the virus from handling dead or live infected birds (if you handle any dead animals you should use gloves or double plastic bags). Should I be concerned about my mosquito bite? Most mosquitoes do not carry the West Nile Virus. Even in areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very few mosquitoes, less than 1%, are infected. If the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of people who get bitten and get the virus will become severely ill. If you do experience any symptoms of the West Nile Virus you should see your doctor. What can be done to reduce the risk of getting the West Nile Virus? To reduce your risk of getting the West Nile Virus it is important to remember that mosquitoes breed in almost any body of water. There are several things you can do around your home or apartment to help reduce mosquito-breeding sites. Remember to dispose of tin cans, buckets, and other water holding containers Remove old tires from your property Keep rain gutters clean and working Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows Change water in birdbaths weekly Get rid of any stagnant water on your property Have properly screened doors and windows Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water Store boats covered or upside down Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well-trimmed so adult mosquitoes cannot hide there To personally reduce your risk of mosquito bites remember to do the following: Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors Apply insect repellent thinly to exposed skin (it may irritate the eyes and mouth so avoid applying to the hands of children). Do not apply repellent to infants. Most effective are DEET containing repellants (make sure it contains less than 10% DEET when applying to children). Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened area, and to protect infants What should I do if my animal(s) get the West Nile Virus? You cannot get West Nile Virus from your animals and they cannot give the virus to each other. Most animals will recover from the virus. Some animals (such as sheep and mice) will show symptoms from mild illness to death when infected with the virus. Other animals (such as pigs, rabbits, and dogs) appear resistant to infection and show no signs of illness. Horses will show symptoms of listlessness, staggering, fever and weakness when infected. If you think your animal(s) has the West Nile Virus contact your veterinarian. A vaccine for horses was recently approved but it is not known how well it works. If you need more information about getting your horse vaccinated contact your veterinarian. There is no vaccine for any other type of animal or for humans. Should I be worried about hunting and getting the West Nile Virus? It is not known if wild game has the virus. It is important for you to wear gloves when handling and cleaning wild game to prevent blood from touching bare hands. Any wild game you plan on eating should be cooked thoroughly. Also, apply insect repellent to clothing and skin while hunting. Should I report sighting of dead bird(s) in my area? Reports of newly dead birds (no stiffening, maggots, or skeletons) of the following species only are encouraged, roughly April to October, by going online to: Report a dead bird. Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Jays or Hawks dead less than 24 hours. Call the California Department of Health Services West Nile Virus hotline at 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or log onto California West Nile Virus Home. For more information contact your health care provider, Shasta County Public Health at (530) 225-5591 or Shasta Mosquito & Vector Control at (530) 365-3768. Sources: Shasta Co. Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, Washington Sate Department of Health , Shasta Mosquito & Vector Control District
	Shasta County Public Health 2650 Breslauer Way, Redding, CA 96001 Phone: (530) 225-5591 Toll Free 1-800-971-1999 Fax: (530) 225-3743 Email: Shasta County Public Health Give us feedback on our website "Building a Healthier Community" Disclaimer A large and growing amount of health information exists on the Web. This information varies widely in quality and focus. The links on this site will lead you to reliable sources of information. Some of these links may provide personal health information; these are designed for educational use and are not intended to replace advice from a health professional. Some of these sites display advertising; the Shasta County Department of Public Health does not endorse any product or service offers. Further, some of these sites may occasionally support or oppose a state or local ballot measure; the Shasta County Department of Public Health does not promote or discourage the passage of any state or local ballot measure and does not use any County resources for campaigning purposes.