West Nile Virus Detected in Pinellas

Pinellas County residents are being warned to avoid mosquito exposure after a sentinel chicken in Tarpon Springs tested positive for West Nile virus.

The chicken, which was housed at the Keller Water Treatment Facility grounds, tested positive for West Nile on Wednesday. It is the first positive test of 2015 in the Pinellas County area, the county said in email to media.

Populations of chickens are kept by the county to serve as sentinels for a number of mosquito-borne illnesses. They essentially serve as an early warning detection system that mosquitoes in the area are carrying the diseases. There are eight different locations across the county where sentinel chickens are kept and 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 mosquitoes. As of July 7, 23 states reported conformation of the virus. Only 10 cases in people have been reported. Of that 10, two have involved severe complications, the CDC reported. No human cases had been reported in Florida as of July 7.

As the rainy season continues, Pinellas County Mosquito Control is “aggressively treating known breeding areas by ground and by air, as well as responding to requests from residents,” the county’s email stated. “Additional fogging and treatment efforts are ongoing in the area where the positive sentinel chicken was located.”

Residents can do their part to control the mosquito population by eliminating ideal breeding locations from their yards. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a quarter inch of standing water, the county noted. It is asking residents to heed these precautions:

• Empty water from old tires, flower pots, garbage can lids, recycling containers, boat tarps and buckets
• Eliminate standing water near plumbing drains, air conditioner drips, septic tanks or rain gutters
• Flush birdbaths and wading pools weekly
• Flush bromeliads twice weekly or treat with a biological larvicide
• Change the water in outdoor pet dishes daily
• Keep pools adequately chlorinated
• Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating gambusia fish
• Cover rain barrels with fine mesh screening
• Repair rips or tears in door and window screens

For more information about mosquitoes and avoiding exposure, visit the Florida Department of Health online.

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