Date: Fri 01-Oct-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Cooper-encephalitis

Full Text:

Health Director Allays Local Fears About Encephalitis

Newtown Health District Director Mark Cooper said this week he has received

many calls from the parents of students who play soccer about whether they are

at risk from mosquitoes that could carry an encephalitis virus.

"It's alarming to people with kids," Mr Cooper said. "Parents are worried

because their children are playing at dusk when the mosquitoes are active. But

I've been in contact with the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection).

There is no need to cancel soccer practice. No infected birds or mosquitoes

have been found in Newtown."

Mr Cooper said the DEP has been testing mosquitoes collected in traps in a

swampy area near Hattertown Road and has found no trace of any encephalitis

virus.

"Our hope here is that if they do a good job with the spraying in lower

Fairfield County, it will create a barrier," he said. "But we would urge

people to take simple precautions such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and

pants and using mosquito repellent. A variety of different infectious agents

can be caused by mosquitoes so it is always a good strategy to avoid being

bitten by them."

Mr Cooper said some soccer events in towns in lower Fairfield County have been

canceled, mostly because no one was showing up because of fears about the

virus that has killed five people and sickened many others in New York.

The virus, first identified as St Louis Encephalitis, was found in two species

of mosquitoes trapped in Greenwich and also in the brain of a dead crow from

Westport. Later, the virus was identified as one which causes West Nile Fever.

According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), most people

who are infected by the virus have no symptoms or may experience mild illness

such as a fever or headache before fully recovering. But in some individuals,

particularly the elderly, infants, or persons with compromised immune systems,

the virus can cause serious neurological damage and can be fatal.

Even in areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very few mosquitoes --

perhaps only one out of 1,000 -- are infected, the DPH said. If a person is

bitten by an infected mosquito, the chance of developing illness is

approximately 1 in 300.

Authorities say the mosquitoes contracted the virus by biting infected birds.

Hundreds of dead crows have been found in parts of western New York state. The

virus is not spread by person-to-person contact, nor directly from birds to

persons.

A DEP spokesman said the state this week did preemptive ground spraying in the

mosquito-breeding areas of Stamford and also in the towns of Westport, Norwalk

and Darien, including parks and playing fields. The spraying was done with the

insecticide Scourge, which kills adult mosquitoes within 5 to 30 minutes of

spraying. It is the least toxic product available, non-corrosive, will not

harm wildlife or bees, and breaks down within four hours in sunlight, the DEP

said.

Even if the risk is slight, health officials advise that the following

precautions should be taken until the first frost kills off the mosquitoes:

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors if you spend time outdoors at

dusk or dawn.

Cover the legs and arms of children who play outdoors near swampy areas. Cover

infant outdoor playpens and carriages with mosquito netting.

Use mosquito repellent that contains DEET, but no more than 30 percent, and

use sparingly and with care. Products containing 15 percent or less DEET are

recommended for children; no products containing DEET should be used on

infants. Carefully read and follow manufacturer's directions. Wash treated

skin when the exposure to mosquitoes has ended.

Don't camp out overnight near freshwater swamps. In other areas, make sure

tents are equipped with mosquito netting.

Don't let stagnant water collect around your home. Remove any standing water

in places like clogged roof gutters, wading pools, birdbaths, used tires,

wheelbarrows, recycling containers, ceramic pots and planters. Fill in low

spots where water can collect. (Mosquitoes can develop in any puddle that

stands for more than four days.)

Ornamental water gardens should be aerated or stocked with fish to prevent

them from becoming breeding areas for mosquitoes. Chlorinate and clean

swimming pools; don't let water collect on pool covers.

Fix holes in screens and make sure they are tightly attached to windows and

doors.

The public can contact the state's mosquito information line (860/424-4184) to

get updated information and spraying information. Questions also can be

answered by the Newtown Health District at 270-4291 or by the DPH's Office of

Epidemiology at 860/509-7994.