District of Columbia Confirms One Human Case of West Nile Virus

MEDIA CONTACT: Marcus A. Williams, Director of Communications, (202) 724-7481, [email protected]

(Washington, DC) – The District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a single human case of West Nile Virus. DOH officials have been closely monitoring the well-being of the District of Columbia resident who has since improved and been released from a local hospital. A West Nile virus human case has been identified during the summer months for the last three consecutive years. DOH is asking residents and visitors alike to follow some simple guidelines in order to prevent mosquito bites during the summer months when mosquitoes are most active.

“As we continue to monitor this situation and protect the health of the District residents, we strongly encourage residents to eliminate water filled cavities and spaces in which mosquitoes breed, such as old car tires, lawn figurines, poorly draining rain gutters, discarded cans and saucers under plant pots” said DOH Director, Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt.

Other preventative measures to protect against mosquito bites include:

• Wearing proper protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants, when outdoors in known mosquito activity areas taking extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (dusk to dawn).
• Applying insect repellents to exposed areas of the body; and
• Eliminating standing water on private property including pots, trash bins, tires, etc.
  Standing water in private property may result in fines under the Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases Control Emergency Act of 2005 (DC Official Code § 8-2131, et. seq).
• Covering tires stored outside before each rain and uncover them promptly afterwards to prevent water from standing on the tarps.
• Cleaning roof gutters and downspouts regularly. Eliminating standing water from flat roofs.
• Turning over plastic wading pools, wheelbarrows, and canoes when not in use.
• Covering waste containers with tight-fitting lids; never allowing lids or cans to accumulate water.
• Flushing bird baths and potted plant trays twice each week.
• Adjusting tarps over grills, firewood piles, boats or swimming pools to eliminate small pockets of water from standing several days.
• Re-grading low areas where water stands and clean out debris in ditches to eliminate standing water in low spots.
• Maintaining swimming pools, clean and chlorinating them as needed, aerating garden ponds and treating with “mosquito dunks” found at hardware stores.
• Fixing dripping water faucets outside and eliminating puddles from air conditioners.
• Storing pet food and water bowls inside when not in use.

West Nile Virus is an arbovirus that’s most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. It can cause febrile illness, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Most people who become infected with West Nile Virus do not develop any symptoms. About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, diarrhea or rash. Most patients with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months. Less than 1% of people who are infected will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.

Should residents or visitors experience any of these symptoms they should contact their primary care physician or visit a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

For more information on preventing mosquito bites and information on the West Nile Virus and its symptoms visit the District of Columbia Department of Health at doh.dc.gov or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov or by calling (202) 535-2323 between the hours of 8:15 am and 4:45 pm.