EPI UPDATE

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In this issue:

• MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS UPDATE: Three Additional Human West Nile Virus Cases Reported

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rob Hayes

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today reported three individuals – a 29-year-old Escambia County resident, a 28-year-old Polk County resident and a 38-year-old Orange County resident -- as having West Nile (WN) virus. Due to these additional cases and increased WN virus detection in animals, DOH has added Charlotte, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Polk and Sarasota counties to a medical alert already in effect for Brevard, Escambia, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter and Volusia counties.

"Typically, the majority of WN cases are in people over the age of 50," said DOH Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A. "However, as these new cases indicate, people of all ages are vulnerable and must take precautionary measures to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes."

Agwunobi recommends people take the following precautionary measures to guard against mosquito bites:

• Avoid outdoor activities when mosquitoes are active, especially at dusk and dawn;
• If you must be outdoors when mosquitoes are active, cover up by wearing shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Additional protection can be obtained by applying permethrin repellent directly to clothing;
• Use mosquito repellant containing DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) according to manufacturer’s directions; and
• Eliminate stagnant water in birdbaths, ponds and other receptacles in which mosquitoes might breed.

The Department of Health laboratories provide testing services for physicians treating patients with clinical signs of mosquito-borne (arboviral) disease. These signs may include headache, fever, fatigue, dizziness, weakness and confusion. Physicians should submit serum and, if available, cerebrospinal fluid samples to either the Tampa or Jacksonville Department of Health laboratories. People over the age of 50 are at the greatest risk of having severe disease from an arbovirus infection.

DOH continues to conduct statewide surveillance for arboviruses, including West Nile (WN) virus, Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE) and St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE). Residents of Florida are encouraged to report dead birds by calling the West Nile Virus Hotline at 1-800-871-9703, or via the Web site www.wld.fwc.state.fl.us/bird/. For more information on WN virus, visit the DOH Bureau of Epidemiology’s Web site at www.doh.state.fl.us (click on Epidemiology, then Health Topics), call the Bureau’s hotline at 1-888-880-5782 for recorded information, or call your local county health department.