SNHD Surveillance Detects West Nile Virus in 3 Mosquitoes in Clark County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 8, 2006

LAS VEGAS – September 8, 2006 – The Southern Nevada Health District’s mosquito surveillance program has detected West Nile virus in 3 additional mosquitoes in Clark County. There have been a total of 20 mosquitoes testing positive in the county in 2006, all of which have been detected since August. Affected mosquitoes were found at the Las Vegas Wash (89122) and at the Wetlands Park (89122). To date, there have been two confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Clark County residents; neither individual contracted the disease in Clark County. The first individual is under age 50, and contracted the illness while traveling in northern Nevada. The second case is an individual over the age of 50 who contracted the illness in Utah.

Future public health updates on positive mosquitoes will be posted to the Southern Nevada Health District website: www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org.

The Southern Nevada Health District reminds residents to take steps to minimize exposure to mosquito bites and to control the mosquito population. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following to reduce individual risk of mosquito-borne illness:

Eliminate areas of standing water, including bird baths, un-maintained swimming pools and sprinkler runoff, which support mosquito breeding.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without tears or holes.
Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, notably at dusk (the first two hours after sunset) and dawn.
Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts, when outdoors.
Apply an insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) according to manufacturer’s directions. Repellents containing picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus also have some efficacy. However, DEET is the best-studied and most-effective repellant available.

For additional information on West Nile virus, visit the health district website at www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org. The public may also call the West Nile virus hotline at (702) 759-1220 with questions, concerns or to report standing water, dead birds and mosquitoes.

Visit the Media Contacts webpage for media related inquiries.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.