State takes aim
at West Nile virusHealth officials want to keep
the deadly illness out of Hawaii
State health officials urge islanders to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites from their properties and report any findings of dead birds in a stepped-up effort to keep West Nile Virus out of Hawaii.
This comes after this year's first confirmed human case of the virus yesterday in South Carolina.
Spread to humans with a bite from an infected mosquito, the virus caused nearly 300 deaths on the mainland last year, said Dr. Paul Kitsutani, with the Disease Outbreak Control Division.
He said more than 4,000 cases of West Nile Virus were reported last year in 40 states and Washington, D.C. Most of them occurred in July, August and September, he said, possibly because people were outdoors more or mosquitoes were more dense.
The cases were "sort of the tip of the iceberg," Kitsutani said, explaining studies have shown many people may become infected with the virus who have no symptoms and aren't aware of it.
The virus could have a significant impact if introduced here, Kitsutani said. He appealed to residents to remove standing water on their properties at least once a week to get rid of mosquito-breeding areas. It takes a week for a mosquito to transform from larva to an adult, he said. Tires, debris and other junk that accumulate water also should be removed, he said.
West Nile Virus usually is transferred from mosquitoes to birds, but also affects horses, humans and other animals.
The public is encouraged to report sightings of any dead birds, which may signal presence of the virus from mosquitoes.
Kitsutani said his division is working with the Vector Control Branch and the University of Hawaii to test dead birds for West Nile.
None has had the virus, he said, "but we feel this (testing) is very, very important. In many states of the U.S., West Nile Virus initially was detected through dead bird surveillance."
Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will have no symptoms or only mild flu-like symptoms lasting a few days, Kitsutani said.
However, a virus infection can result in severe or fatal illness known as West Nile encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain or the membrane around the brain.
Encephalitis symptoms include headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor, tumors, coma, convulsions and paralysis.
No vaccine is available for the virus. Most infected people get better on their own, but encephalitis cases require hospitalization.
The only states free of West Nile Virus in animals, mosquitoes or humans as of last year besides Hawaii were Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Arizona, Kitsutani said. New Mexico, Idaho and Washington state have identified West Nile Virus activity in animals or mosquitoes but not humans.
To report or deliver dead birds, call the nearest Humane Society, Vector Control or other collection sites designated at www.state.hi.us/doh/wnv/dbsites.html.