As we pursue the sport we love, we often place ourselves in hazardous situations. The Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen Board supports an informative corner to sharpen our be smart and safe behaviors.
Coping With West Nile Virus
By Dougald Scott
Coping With West Nile Virus
By Dougald Scott
In the September 2003 newsletter, this column reported that birds infected with West Nile virus (WNV) had been found in Southern California. Unfortunately, the virus has rapidly spread throughout California in 2004. Before mid August, 2004, Santa Cruz County was one of six counties in the state with no reported cases of WNV. Then on Aug. 18th and 19th a cliff swallow and two western scrub jays were found dead in Watsonville, Aptos and Rio del Mar. The dead birds tested positive for WNV. As of September 7th, no human cases had been reported in Santa Cruz County or any of the nearby counties.
Here is what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises about WNV:
Symptoms:
* Most people (80%) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.
* Up to 20 % of the people who become infected will display symptoms which can include fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have been sick for several weeks.
* Less than 1% of those infected may develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.
Spread:
* Most often WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are WNV carriers that become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.
* In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.
* WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.
Treatment:
* There is no specific treatment for WNV infection.
* Milder WNV illness improves on its own, and people do not necessarily need to seek medical attention for this infection though they may choose to do so.
* If you develop symptoms of severe WNV illness, such as unusually severe headaches or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. Severe WNV illness usually requires hospitalization.
* Pregnant women and nursing mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor if they develop symptoms that could be WNV.
* People over 50 at higher risk to get sick. People over the age of 50 are more likely to develop serious symptoms of WNV if they do get sick.
Risk of Infection:
* Being outside means you're at risk. The more time you're outdoors, the more time you could be bitten by an infected mosquito. Pay attention to avoiding mosquito bites if you spend a lot of time outside, either working or playing.
* Apply Insect Repellent Containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) to exposed skin when you go outdoors.
* When possible, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent will give extra protection. Do not spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under your clothing.
As of September 7, 2004, a total of 438 West Nile virus infections in humans have been reported from 14 California counties. Of the 408 WNV cases with symptoms, 149 are classified as West Nile fever cases, 141 are classified as West Nile neuroinvasive disease, and 118 are of unknown status. There have been twelve West Nile virus-related fatalities to date in California, in Los Angles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
Since some of the best times for fly fishing overlap with the peak activity periods for mosquitoes, we fly fishers need to be especially vigilant for WNV. Many of us are in the habit of tolerating a few mosquito bites in order to avoid applying repellent. That is no longer a good idea! Make a habit applying plenty of DEET before getting on your favorite waters.