McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

August 22, 2009

Mosquitos test positive for West Nile virus

By James Beaty

The West Nile virus mosquitos are back.

“We’ve focused a lot on the H1N1 Swine Flu, but today I received word a pool of mosquitos in McAlester tested positive for the West Nile virus,” Pittsburg County Health Department Administrator Mike Echelle said late Friday afternoon.

It marked the first positive test of mosquitos with the West Nile virus in Pittsburg County for this year.

“At this time, we do not have confirmation of any people with West Nile virus in Pittsburg County or anywhere else in the state, although there is a probable case pending in Northwestern Oklahoma,” Echelle said.

Last year, three Pittsburg County residents contracted the West Nile virus. All three recovered. Statewide, there have been some fatalities in the past.

“We know that mosquitos that transmit West Nile virus are in McAlester and the Pittsburg County area, so the best way to prevent West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites,” Echelle said.

It’s best to try and limit outside activity between dusk and dawn, when the mosquitos that transmit the virus are most active, he said.

Echelle also advised to use mosquito repellent with DEET and to be careful and follow instructions when applying the repellent.

If going outside when the mosquitos are active, Echelle said it’s best to wear long sleeves and pants for protection.

Echelle also said it’s a good idea to empty any outside standing water, since that’s where mosquitos that spread the virus leave their larva.

Symptoms of West Nile virus vary, but can include fever, intense headaches, extreme tiredness and weakness and dizziness.

Although there is no vaccine available for humans, there is one for horses, Echelle noted. Horse owners may want to make sure their horses are vaccinated, he said.

Text Only
Local News
Seasonal Content
Poll

A recent study of southern tornadoes has found that storm shelters did not protect them. Where do you take shelter when tornadoes threaten?

A basement or cellar
A storm shelter
A hallway or closet
Bathtub
Other
I don't take shelter
     View Results
AP Video
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
NDN Video
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China Beyonce Entertains the First Family Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7 Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges Has Snooki Named Her Baby? Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend Inspiration for the class of 2012 Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3" 80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini Sliders on the Grill Cruise ship crunch Backstage With Beyonce Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad Pope's Personal Butler Under Arrest Jenny McCarthy's New Man Tyler's Classic Coleslaw Britney Spears Under X Factor Fire Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Hits Milestone
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.