West Nile Virus Strikes Walsingham Sentinel Chicken

LARGO, FL -- Pinellas County Mosquito Control today confirmed a positive test for West Nile virus in a sentinel chicken in the Walsingham area on Thursday, Dec. 7.

This is the second time in two weeks that Pinellas County Mosquito Control confirmed positive tests in sentinel chickens. On Wednesday, Nov. 22, Mosquito Control confirmed positive tests in five sentinel chickens in Walsingham, and the Cross Bayou and Sawgrass Lake areas of St. Petersburg.

The Walsingham area is in the south end of Largo, bordering Ulmerton Road to the north and Indian Rocks Beach to the west. Cross Bayou is the waterway east of Seminole Lake Country Club and west of Park Street North. The Sawgrass Lake area borders Interstate 275 and Gandy Boulevard near Pinellas Park.

Technicians responded with treatment targeting adult mosquitoes and larvae by air and by ground in the area. This is in addition to the county’s ongoing treatment efforts.

Since Aug. 25, 15 sentinel chickens have tested positive for West Nile virus, all of which have been in southern Pinellas County.

By using the chickens, Mosquito Control can be alerted to the presence of West Nile Virus, St. Louis encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Highlands J Virus. Mosquito Control placed sentinel chickens in eight locations around the county where they are tested weekly.

West Nile virus produces no symptoms in about 70 to 80 percent of people infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people, however, can develop such symptoms fever, rash, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting and diarrhea. In less than 1 percent of those infected severe symptoms may develop. The infection may lead to encephalitis or meningitis, which is an inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissue, the CDC says. Of those who develop severe complications about 10 percent die.

The CDC tracks the number of West Nile virus infections logged across the country in people, birds and mosquitos. As of Tuesday, Dec. 5, a total of 47 states and the District of Columbia have reported a total of 1,937 West Nile Virus infections in 2017. Three human cases has been reported in Florida.

Pinellas County urged residents and visitors to protect themselves from mosquitoes by staying indoors during peak hours of mosquito activity at dawn and dusk. The county also recommends using approved mosquito repellants and ensure screens and seals are intact around windows and doors.

Residents also are used to stay on top of getting rid of standing water on their properties to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as one quarter inch of standing water.

For more information about stopping mosquitoes, visit www.pinellascounty.org/resident/mosquito_control.htm. Mosquito control request forms also are available on the web page.

Patch Editor Sherri Lonon contributed to this report

Image via U.S. Department of Agriculture, Flickr, used under Creative Commons