Health Dept. issues West Nile warning

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health issued a recommendation for people to protect themselves against mosquito bites and exposure to rodents in the outdoors this summer.

The recommendation comes on the heels of the confirmation of mosquitoes from Las Cruces testing positive for West Nile virus. The NMDOH also stated that plague was confirmed in six cats and three dogs from Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba counties this year.In the wake of the confirmations of the West Nile virus and the plague, the Navajo Nation’s Veterinary and Livestock Program is urging livestock owners to update all preventative measures for their livestock. In particular, the program is encouraging horse owners to ensure that all horses are properly vaccinated to protect them from encephalitis and West Nile virus.

There have been no human cases of West Nile this year for the state, but there has been one case of plague in a man from Eddy County. The NMDOH said he got the disease from hunting rabbits. Last year, the state had 60 human cases of West Nile virus with three fatalities and five cases of plague with one fatality.

Paul Ettestad, the NMDOH public health veterinarian, said that the most cases of West Nile virus infection are seen from July through September.

“Fortunately, it is easy to protect yourself by taking precautions, such as using a repellent when you are outdoors, especially during the evening and early morning when mosquitoes are most active,” Ettestad said.

According to the department, common symptoms of the West Nile virus are fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. In rare cases, it can cause meningitis or encephalitis. Individuals 50 and older are most at-risk. Anyone exhibiting those symptoms should see a health care provider.

The NMDOH offered the following tips to protect from West Nile virus infection:

• Use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing when outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 for use on skin, and permethrin for use on clothing. Always follow label directions when using insect repellents;

• Wear protective clothing such as loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when weather permits;
• The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing, or avoid outdoor activities during these times;
• Eliminate water-holding containers where mosquitoes lay eggs, such as old tires, and regularly change the water in birdbaths, wading pools and pet water bowls. Make sure rain barrels are tightly screened;
• Keep windows and doors closed if not screened. If you leave your house doors or windows open, make sure they have screens that fit tightly and have no holes;
• Vaccinate your horses to protect them from West Nile virus and Western Equine Encephalitis, which is also carried by mosquitoes.

Plague, a bacterial disease transmitted rodent-to-rodent by infected fleas, can also be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. It can also be transmitted via direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, rabbits, and pets.

The NMDOH reported that most of the pets infected were hunters that had eaten an infected rodent before getting ill and that all but one of the pet plague cases recovered with antibiotic treatment.

Using a flea control product on pets and preventing them from roaming and hunting rodents is recommended by Ettestad to prevent plague.

The NMDOH stated that symptoms of plague in humans include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, weakness, and in most cases, a painful swelling of the lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck areas.

Plague symptoms in cats and dogs include fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. There may also be a swelling in the lymph node under the jaw. With quick diagnosis and the proper antibiotic treatment, fatality rates in people and pets can be greatly reduced, the NMDOH said.

To prevent plague, the NMDOH recommends the following tips:

• Avoid sick or dead rodents and rabbits, and their nests and burrows;
• Treat pets regularly with an effective flea control product, and prevent them from roaming and hunting;
• Clean up areas near the house where rodents could live, such as woodpiles, brush piles, junk and abandoned vehicles;
• Sick pets should be examined promptly by a veterinarian;
• See your doctor about any unexplained illness involving a sudden and severe fever.