What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito borne virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or Meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). The virus first appeared in the United States in 1999 in New York City. It has since made its way westward and now is found in virtually the entire country.
How do you get it?
The virus is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. WNV is not transmitted by person to person contact such as kissing, touching or caring for someone who is infected.
Who is at risk?
The serious form of the disease is extremely rare. People over 50, young children and those with weakened immune systems are more at risk than others.
What are the symptoms?
Most people who are infected with WNV will not develop any symptoms. A small minority of people may become ill 3 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The symptoms may include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes skin rash and / or swollen glands.
In rare occasions, WNV infection may result in encephalitis. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that may be marked by headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. A small number of cases have been fatal.
What can be done to prevent WNV?
Prevention is best done by minimizing exposure to mosquitoes.
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What do I do if I find a dead or dying bird?
The testing of dead or dying birds is no longer necessary due to West Nile
Virus being present in
Michigan.
Dead birds can be safely disposed of by either burying them or placing them in the garbage using a shovel, gloved hand or by turning a plastic bag inside out, grasping the bird and then turning the bag back right side out with the bird inside.
For reporting a dead bird, visit the Michigan Department of Community Health website, or for additional health information regarding WNV visit the Center’s for Disease Control website.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is an illness caused by a spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to people and animals by the bite of an infected Black Legged Deer Tick.
What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
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Late symptoms:
 | Arthritis (usually one or more large joint, especially the knees) |
| Nervous system abnormalities that can include nerve paralysis (facial muscles) and meningitis |
| Rarely, irregularities of the heart rhythm may occur. |
Treatment
Patients and domestic animals treated in the early stages of Lyme disease with a course of antibiotics usually recover rapidly and completely. If improperly diagnosed, or untreated, the disease can cause long-term health problems.
Prevention
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Ticks can attach to any part of the human body, but prefer body creases and areas with hair, such as the groin, armpits, sock line and scalp.
Tick removal and bite treatment
1. Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick by the head as close to
the
skin as possible then gently, but firmly, pull is straight out. Do not: twist or
jerk the tick, apply petroleum jelly, a hot match, or other irritant. This can
lead to infection because the tick’s mouth parts may remain embedded, or you
may be burned. Use your fingernails and tissue paper if tweezers are not
available.
2. Immediately wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water then apply an antiseptic to the bite wound.
3. If in doubt of tick identification, place the tick in a small vial containing a damp piece of tissue and submit it to the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for examination.
Tick Identification and
Testing
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Laboratory will screen ticks for the Lyme disease organism if the tick is a deer tick and was removed from a human host at no cost to the submitter. Ticks removed from a non-human host will be identified and disease screening will be performed by the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH) at Michigan State University. DCPAH will charge the submitter a $10 fee for identification of the tick and $40 for disease screening.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and MDCH laboratory will receive ticks for identification purposes only, regardless of the host. Tick submitters can use the tick submission form found on the MDA website at www.michigan.gov/mda and type the word "tick form" in the search box. If the submitter desires DCPAH to provide disease screening of their tick, they should indicate such desires by checking the appropriate box on the tick submission form and the MDA or MDCH will forward the tick to DCPAH.
For Additional Information Visit the Websites Listed Below
Michigan Department of Community Health
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
