Officials watch for West Nile

Officials watch for West Nile

Mosquito abatement agencies distributed 450 "sentinel" chickens throughout the state last week to act as a warning system against the virus. The chickens are placed into regular chicken populations and receive regular tests for West Nile, said David Heaton, public information officer for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes that acquire it from infected birds, originated in Africa and was first seen in the United States in 1999 in New York. Since then, the virus has spread across all of the states, and 70 human cases were reported in Utah last year, with two deaths. Only three human cases were reported in Southwestern Utah, with one in Iron County.

Most of the time, humans who become infected with the virus never show symptoms, but those who do can experience flu-like symptoms and sometimes more serious conditions such as a coma, seizures or blindness, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

The sentinel chickens and other precautions can help prevent such cases, Heaton said, and officials place the birds all over the state.

"They don't publicize where they are because they don't want people to mess with them, but they usually just put them with special chickens," he said.

The chickens will be tested to make sure they are free of the virus and then distributed throughout the state, where they will undergo weekly testing throughout the season. If officials detect the virus, they will notify the public and set up traps and spray poisons for mosquitoes in the area, Heaton said.

The virus also affects livestock and other mammals, especially horses, which suffer a 40 percent mortality rate from infection, according to the American Mosquito Control Association, which has a Web site at www.mosquito.org.

Horse owners are encouraged to vaccinate their animals and take preventative measures to control the number of mosquitoes in the area.

"It's worrisome, definitely," said Gail Thompson, an Iron County resident and horse owner. "There are a lot of steps you have to take to follow (the health department's) recommendations."

Mike Oldham, manager for the Southwest Mosquito Abatement & Control District, recommended that people clear their rain gutters and eliminate any standing water on their property to help keep mosquito populations down.

"Mosquitoes often come out from sundown to sunup," he said. "If you're out where mosquitoes are common, wear long-sleeved pants and shirts, preferably light colored, and DEET repellent."

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