The type of mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus are most active during evening and early morning hours, so it is most important to take mosquito bite precautions during that time of the day. It is also recommended to drain or treat standing water around your home with a mosquito larvacide to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
West Nile virus is a reportable disease in Oklahoma. West Nile virus was first identified in the United States in the New York City area during the Summer of 1999. Previously, this mosquito-borne virus had only been found in parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The introduction of this foreign virus was recognized by deaths of thousands of birds (particularly crows and jays) and an epidemic of encephalitis in people and horses.
Over the next few years, the virus rapidly expanded its geographic range. Since national surveillance for this disease began in 1999, there have been a total of 27,605 human cases with 1,086 deaths reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by 43 states through the ArboNet system.
From six years of experience tracking West Nile virus in Oklahoma, we have learned that the “West Nile virus season” consists of the months of May to November. Persons are at greatest risk of exposure to infected mosquitoes from July through October in our state. Persons of any age can develop symptoms of disease after being bitten by an infected mosquito, but those over the age of 50 are at greater risk of developing serious illness of the nervous system.
During Oklahoma’s six-year experience with West Nile virus, 308 confirmed cases of human disease have been reported; many cases required lengthy hospital stays and 20 Oklahomans have died from this virus.
By: Oklahoma State Department of Health – Sun, 06/22/2008 – 23:51
