[StBernard] Mosquito Alert Issued; West Nile Precautions

[Westley Annis]

Pres. Rodriguez issues mosquito-borne disease alert for St. Bernard Parish
after West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis found in mosquito samples.

 
A large number of samples of mosquitos in St. Bernard Parish have tested
positive for mosquito-borne viruses including St. Louis encephalitis and
West Nile and Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez issued a health
alert for residents on Tuesday, July 25.
 
"We have a health menace fixing to happen'' if people aren't careful,
Rodriguez said, pointing out that St. Tammany Parish already has had several
cases of West Nile recently in which the victims died. No human cases have
been found in St. Bernard Parish, Rodriguez said.
 
The St. Bernard Parish Council scheduled a special meeting at 6 p.m. on
Wednesday, July 26, to discuss the problem.
 
"A large number of samples (of mosquitos) from Arabi and Chalmette have
tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis,'' Rodriguez said, which affects
the elderly, children and the immuno-suppressed. Several samples have also
tested positive for West Nile Virus, in which infections are most serious in
the elderly and the immuno-suppressed. The period of high virus activity may
continue until the onset of cooler weather.
 
The large number of homes in St. Bernard Parish abandoned by residents after
flooding by Hurricane Katrina could contribute to the potential health
problem, Rodriguez said. Clogged drains also become breeding grounds, he
said.
 
Rodriguez said many homes had swimming pools or other items that could catch
and hold rain and now because of recent rainstorms they are breeding grounds
for mosquitos, with no one living at the homes to drain them.
 
Also, abandoned homes may have refrigerators overturned and leaking fluids,
also leaving places for mosquitos to breed or rats to feed on spoiled food.
There could be as many as 12,000 homes that haven't been cleaned or gutted,
Rodriguez said.
"We need help from the federal government or the state'' to hire contractors
to remove storm debris including refrigerators, Rodriguez said.
 
Rodriguez and parish Mosquito Control Director Will Schulte said the parish
has increased aerial and ground spraying for adult mosquitos and will
continue this level of spraying until samples test negatives. But weather,
namely rains almost daily, interferes with aerial spray operations. "As a
result, we cannot spray every day but only every day that weather permits,''
Schulte said.
 
Rodriguez said individuals should take the following precautions during high
viral activity:
- Make sure your dwelling is as mosquito-proof as possible, including
screens. With trailer homes, that includes checking underneath to ensure
there are no openings around plumbing, behind the sink, etc. These areas can
be sealed with insulation available from building supply companies.
 
- If you must be outside with mosquitos are active, use repellant and/or
protective clothing such as long-sleeve shirts and long pants. Repellants
that are effective include deet and picaridin, A Cutter brand picaridin
product is available in the St. Bernard stores, including Walgreen's and
Home Depot.
 
- Empty or discard containers holding rainwater.
 
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