West Nile Virus alert in Miami-Dade

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

- MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS ADVISORY -

Miami, October 5, 2009 -- Today, Miami-Dade County Health Department Administrator Dr. Lillian Rivera, RN, MSN, PhD has issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory for Miami-Dade County after a human case of West Nile virus (WNV) was confirmed in a 61 year-old male resident of Miami-Dade County.

Symptoms of West Nile virus disease may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion. Physicians should contact their county health department if they suspect an individual may meet the case definition for a mosquito-borne illness. DOH laboratories provide testing services for physicians treating patients with clinical signs of mosquito-borne disease.

Miami-Dade County Health Department reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may cause encephalitis disease. Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control and the health department continue surveillance and prevention efforts and encourage everyone to take basic precautions to help limit exposure by following the department of health recommendations.

Your personal mosquito protection efforts should include the "5 D's" for prevention:

• Dusk and Dawn -- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking blood. For many species, this is during the dusk and dawn hours.
• Dress -- Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.
• DEET -- When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes, repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended. Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are other repellent options.
• Drainage -- Check around your home to rid the area of standing water, which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

Homeowners can help prevent mosquito-borne disease by clearing potential breeding sites in and around their home:

• Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters.
• Remove old tires or drill holes in those used in playgrounds to drain.
• Turn over or remove empty plastic pots.
• Pick up all beverage containers and cups.
• Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water.
• Pump out bilges on boats.
• Replace water in birdbaths and pet or other animal feeding dishes at least once a week.
• Change water in plant trays, including hanging plants, at least once a week.
• Remove vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.

DOH continues to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito borne illnesses, including West Nile virus infections, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, and dengue. Residents of Florida are encouraged to report dead birds via the web site www.myfwc.com/bird. For more information on mosquito-borne illnesses, visit DOH's Environmental Health web site at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/arboviral/, or call the Miami-Dade County Health Department at 305-324-2400 or visit http://www.dadehealth.org/.