DESERT
HILLS – The first case this year of a horse contracting
West Nile Virus in Maricopa County was reported in Desert
Hills, according to health officials.
The
case was reported in the area bounded by 7th and 24th
streets between Cloud Road and Desert Hills Drive, according
to Johnny Dilone, spokesman for the Environmental Services
Department of Maricopa County.
So
far in 2007, the county has received no confirmation of
human cases, but last year confirmed 64 human cases and
three deaths, according to a news release.
The
infected horse responded to treatment and did not have
to be put down, Dilone said.
West
Nile Virus–which can cause encephalitis, a brain inflammation–is
not contagious between animals or humans; rather, the
principal means of infection is through the bite of an
infected mosquito.
“The
county set mosquito traps in the area that came back with
nothing,” Dilone related, and spraying for mosquitoes
in Desert Hills is not indicated at this time. The county
only sprays if the traps catch 30‑plus Culex‑type
mosquitoes–the variety most likely to carry the West Nile
virus–or 300‑plus mosquitoes of mixed types, or
a human case.
“Personal
protection is the first
and best line of defense for people to avoid this potentially
fatal disease,” said Fulton Brock, chairman of the Maricopa
County Board of Supervisors.
The
county recommends residents take the following precautions
to avoid contracting the virus:
Wear
light‑colored clothing with long sleeves, long pants
and socks when outdoors; eliminate mosquito breeding sites
by removing standing water around the home, repair window
and door screens; wear insect repellant; and avoid outdoor
activity at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
Because
the West Nile virus infects certain wild birds, reporting
of dead birds is a good way for health officials to check
for West Nile Virus activity and provide for prevention
and control measures to minimize spread of the disease.
For
more information, as well as for dead‑bird reporting
and drop‑off locations, or to report green swimming
pools or stagnant water, call 602‑506‑0700
or visit www.maricopa.gov/wnv.
