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92 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, August 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 14, 2004 West Nile virus lands in Oregon By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune The West Nile virus was confirmed in Oregon Friday and may already be in the Rogue Valley, say health officials, who warn people to take precautions against the usually mild but potentially fatal disease. A dead crow found recently in Malheur County tested positive for the virus, which first reached the country in New York five years ago and spread via mosquitoes throughout all the lower 48 states except Oregon — until now. The disease likely is already present but so far undetected in the Rogue Valley, where residents need to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquito bites and get their horses vaccinated, Jackson County Health Director Hank Collins said Friday. The disease may cause only headaches and fevers in some people, but those with compromised immune systems can become seriously sick and die from it. "I’d be surprised if we didn’t have an infected human this summer," Collins said. "We may have already had people infected but we didn’t know it because so many people have had it without knowing they’ve had it." Advertisement To reduce risk, people should remove standing water where mosquitoes breed, wear repellent containing DEET when in mosquito areas and avoid still water with mosquito larvae. Possible symptoms among infected people include headaches, fever, a rash and swollen glands, Collins said. The symptoms can surface three days to three weeks after they are bitten by an infected mosquito, he said. Anyone possessing these symptoms should inform their doctors. "I don’t want people to panic," Collins said. "I want people aware it’s probably here and should be here this summer." West Nile is a virus that’s carried in birds. Mosquitoes that feed on infected birds can transmit the virus to any humans they bite. Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said only about 20 percent of people bitten by an infected mosquito will experience any illness. Although illness from West Nile virus is usually mild, serious illness and death are possible, particularly for persons over the age of 50, according to the CDC. To date, 20 Oregonians with symptoms similar to West Nile virus have been tested this year, and all tests came back negative, said Dr. Emilio Debess, the state public health veterinarian in charge of tracking West Nile in Oregon. Of those, three negative tests were done on Jackson County residents and one on someone from Josephine County, Debess said. Those tests were conducted at the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory in Salem. Also, the Oregon State University veterinary diagnostic lab has tested hundreds of birds and mosquito ponds this year, with all Oregon cases remaining negative, Debess said. The Malheur County crow was found dead Aug. 6 by a Vale resident about 12 miles from the Oregon/Idaho border, Debess said. The bird was sent for testing to OSU, and the results were available late Thursday, he said. Collins said that in the Rogue Valley, the virus most likely will surface first in dead birds. Health officials want valley residents to look out for any dead birds, particularly blue jays, magpies and crows. Anyone who finds a bird dead for no apparent reason should call Jackson County Vector Control at 779-6460. For the test to be effective, the bird needs to have been dead less than 48 hours. People should not handle dead birds themselves. Other than humans and birds, horses are quite susceptible as well, said Dr. Don Hensen, state veterinarian with the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Hensen said many equine owners in the past two years have gotten their horses vaccinated. Vaccinations average $20 apiece and require an initial shot and booster three to six weeks later. Annual boosters are required after that. "People who are concerned about it and can afford it have done it," Hensen said. "It’s not too late to do it now." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities