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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2004

CONTACT: Columbia/Boone County Health Department
(573) 874-7346

West Nile virus suspected in Columbia resident

	(COLUMBIA, MO) - A southwest Columbia resident has been tested
and is now considered to be the first probable human case of West Nile
virus this year in Boone County.  Confirmation is pending per final test
results not yet available. A number of birds and mosquitoes throughout
the county had previously tested positive this summer. In an effort to
control the infected mosquito population, the Columbia/Boone County
Health Department will spray the area in which the resident was infected
and one-half mile surrounding it.
	Residents are reminded to take the necessary precautions needed
to protect themselves and reduce the mosquito population on their
property.

Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar
water-holding containers.

Remove all discarded tires on your property. 

Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are kept
outdoors.

Make sure roof gutters drain properly and clean clogged gutters in the
spring and fall.

Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.

Change the water in birdbaths at least weekly.

Clean vegetation and debris from edges of ponds.

Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. 

Make sure all windows and doors have screens and that all screens are
in good repair.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.
	
Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since
mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Apply insect repellent
sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain 35
percent DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in high concentrations
(greater than 35 percent) provides no additional protection. Repellents
may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the
hands of children. Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent,
be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as
printed on the product.	

Symptoms of West Nile virus include a slight fever, headache, body
aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms usually appear 3 to
15 days after exposure.  The West Nile Virus is transmitted by
mosquitoes to birds, various animals, and humans. Most people infected
with the virus show no symptoms, although occasional infections can
result in serious illness or even death.

For more information on West Nile virus, visit the Columbia/Boone
County Health Department Web site at
www.gocolumbiamo.com/health/environmentalhealth or call (573)
874-7346.

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