First sign of West Nile Virus hits Belvoir

A mosquito sample collected on Fort Belvoir during the last two weeks in July tested positive for the West Nile Virus.

Preventive Medicine Services specialists at DeWitt Army Community Hospital said it is the first sign of the virus during the 2010 mosquito season.

There have not been any confirmed human cases of West Nile Virus on the installation. The virus poses a very low risk to humans, health officials said, though it can be transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. Less than one percent of people who are bitten and get infected will become severely ill. Symptoms can include neck stiffness, disorientation, coma and paralysis.

Samples collected during July and August at Virginia Beach, Va., also tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health. The positive tests are an expected trend, DeWitt health officials said, and many measures are in place to minimize spread of the virus on Belvoir.

Preventive Medicine Services and the Directorate of Public Works began surveillance and control measures early in the spring, and weekly observation and testing continues.

People can take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of infection and protect themselves and their families. Wearing long sleeves and pants, fixing holes in screens and removing pools of standing water from around homes are good steps to take, health officials said. Lastly, use insect repellent, preferably one containing DEET. The concentration of DEET should not exceed 10 percent if being used on children. Adults can use products containing 10 to 50 percent of DEET, which is very effective in deterring ticks, chiggers and fleas, as well. Products containing 30 percent DEET are safe to use on anyone more than two months old.

More information about West Nile Virus is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://cdc.gov, or the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine at http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil.