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West
Nile virus found in Klamath County
By
TY BEAVER
H&N
Staff Writer
It
is this year’s first occurrence of
Klamath
Vector Control collected the sample, and it was confirmed by a
veterinary diagnostic lab at
“I
don’t think it’s terribly surprising,” said Amy Markum, public
health nurse. “Activity is picking up around the state.”
Public
health officials stressed there are no reports of infections in people
or animals, and the positive test result served as a reminder to take
precautions.
It’s
the first time that the virus has been found in a mosquito pool in the
county. In previous years, dead birds tested positive for the virus.
How
it spreads
The
disease is not spread person to person but through the bite of
mosquitoes. If infected, most people display mild to moderate symptoms,
such as fever, headache and rash.
Less
than 1 percent of those infected will have severe symptoms such as brain
swelling and muscle weakness.
County
health officials recommend several precautions against infection, such
as draining standing pools of water to ward off mosquitoes, repairing
window and door screens, using insect repellants and wearing protective
clothing when mosquitoes are active, particularly dusk to dawn.
To
report a dead corvid bird such as blue jays, crows and magpies, call
Klamath Vector Control at 882-2715 or the public health department at
882-8846.
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