West Nile Virus - 2004

We now have this and most other articles published in the Parkland Shopper on our Website. Please visit us at www.dcp.mb.ca

The information in this article is intended as a helpful guide only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional advice. If you have any questions about your medications and what is right for you see your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional.

Mosquitoes are out in full force. My wife has set up our dining tent in the backyard so we can sit outside in the evening and not get eaten. Enthusiastic environmentalists (I’d get in trouble if I called them rabid environmentalists, right? I’m just kidding, don’t sue me.) are getting up at 2 am in Winnipeg to stop mosquito fogging trucks. Residents in Winnipeg that want to be fogged are forming neighborhood action groups to sue the environmentalists. Ahhh, summer in Manitoba, can’t beat it!

Mosquito fogging, bug spray and dining tents are a hot topic of conversation because of something called West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus was first identified in Africa in 1937. It spread to Europe and it was first reported in North America in New York City in 1999. Since then it has spread to most parts of the US and Canada. The first known human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Manitoba was in July of 2003.
West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes. That means that the mosquito bites an infected animal (often a bird), picks up WNV and then bites the human and gives them WNV.

Although WNV is carried by mosquitoes, most mosquitoes do not carry WNV. I am not an insect expert, but Manitoba Health says in this province the main carrier of WNV is the Culex mosquito, which is usually less common type of mosquito. Manitoba Health reports that for the week of July 11 the average one night catch of the WNV carrying type of mosquito in the Parkland in a U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) trap was 5.

What are the symptoms of WNV? Most people who become infected with WNV do not become ill, and so won’t report an illness to their doctor. According to Manitoba Health in 2003 141 people saw their doctor and were confirmed to be infected with WNV. Of those 1 had no symptoms, 105 had West Nile Fever, and 35 had the more serious neurological symptoms. West Nile Fever has flu like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue and body aches. West Nile Fever is usually considered mild and resolves on its own. The much more rare West Nile neurological syndrome is more serious. The neurological syndrome can include encephalitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain. Encephalitis can have serious complications including paralysis, confusion, coma or death. Anyone experiencing symptoms like persistent high fever, muscle weakness and headache should seek medical attention.

How can you protect yourself from WNV? Try to reduce the amount of time you spend outdoors between sunset and sunrise. The peak hours for mosquitoes are at sunrise and sunset, but the WNV Culex mosquitoes do also bite at night. Make sure your screens on your doors and windows don’t have rips or tears. Remove standing water like childrens wading pools from your property. Use bug repellant with DEET. Remember that DEET is NOT recommended for children under 6 months of age.

There have been a lot of DEET questions at the pharmacy lately. Here is what Health Canada says: repellents with concentration of DEET of 30% will protect you for approximately 6 hours, DEET 15% for ~5 hours, DEET 10% for ~3 hours, and DEET 5% for ~2 hours. Health Canada says that you should not use DEET on infants under 6 months of age. You can use DEET of 10% or less on children aged 6 months to 2 years if it is absolutely necessary. You can use DEET of 10% or less on children aged 2 to 12 years not more than 3 times per day.

For more information visit:
Health Canada’s Insect Repellent Page: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pmra-arla/english/consum/insectrepellents-e.html
Manitoba Health’s WNV page: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pmra-arla/english/consum/insectrepellents-e.html

As always if you have any questions or concerns about these or other products, ask your pharmacist.