El Paso City-County Health

and Environmental District
 
 

News Release

                                                                                                 Date: October 12, 1999
                                                                                                 For release: October 12, 1999
                                                                                                 Contact: Jorge C. Magana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Director
 
 
ENCEPHALITIS INFECTED MOSQUITOS

FOUND IN EL PASO COUNTY

The El Paso City-County Health and Environmental District's Vector Control Program has been actively trapping mosquitos throughout the summer to determine if they are infected with known arboviruses that cause disease in animals and man and to identify the mosquitos by species. The trapped samples are sent to the Texas Department of Health (TDH) Bureau of Laboratories in Austin, Texas for laboratory analysis.

TDH lab reported a batch of mosquitos infected with St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) from pooled specimens sent to them on October 4, 1999. The specimens were trapped in a pine tree on the river levee behind the W. Silver Metal Processing Co. located between Anthony and Vinton, Texas. This location is in the northwest part of El Paso County. The Vector Control Program will continue to control the mosquitos in that area through fogging during the evening and early morning hours, if weather permits, because we cannot fog if winds are over 8 mph.

There are five mayor types of arboviral encephalitis in the United States. These are Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE), California Encephalitis and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis. Each is caused by a distinctly different virus. Mosquitos acquire the infection from infected birds or mammals which normally are reservoirs of these viruses. Encephalitis is mainly transmitted to man by the bite of an infected mosquito. This virus affects the central nervous system's brain and spinal chord. Symptoms are fever, headache, muscle weakness, seizures, stupor, coma and sometimes death.

You can help prevent Encephalitis by keeping mosquitos from breeding. Mosquitos grow and develop in standing water. Water standing for just a few days can produce many mosquitos. Get rid of standing water from items and places where it collects:

* Get rid of old tires or store them indoors

* Empty containers such as bottles, cans, drums, etc. that can hold water, and place them open side down

* Empty plastic wading pools

* Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated

* Repair leaky outdoor plumbing and water faucets

* Drain flat roofs and clear clogged roof drains

           * Change water in bird baths and pet water bowls daily * Change water in flower vases twice a week

* Keep on-site sewage disposal Systems covered as required

* Change water in troughs every three days

* Do not over irrigate yards, pastures, fields, etc.

* Cut any vegetation from irrigation ditches and keep irrigation ditches clear of trash and debris
 
 

 There is a large horse population in the upper and lower valley areas and horse owners are urged to maintain their horse encephalitis vaccinations up to date.

Mosquitoes are more active during evening and nighttime hours. If you will be outdoors during these times, protect yourself by using a mosquito repellent and light long-sleeved clothing.

So far, there have been no cases of arboviral encephalitis reported in El Paso.
 
 

For more inforrnation, call the Vector Control Program 594-1568.