West Nile Virus:
What Montana is Doing
Montana residents may be aware that cases of West Nile virus have been identified in animals in North Dakota and South Dakota. The westward migration of this virus has been observed for more than a year and Montana’s first case of West Nile virus has been reported in a horse in Shepherd. A local veterinarian suspected West Nile virus in the animal. Samples were submitted from the animal to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, on August 19.
This development is not surprising and was expected by health care workers and public health authorities. Certain infected mosquitoes carry the virus. West Nile Virus is of interest to the public because it is relatively new to our country, although it was first identified in 1937 in Africa.
West Nile virus can be dangerous and in extreme cases is fatal; but most of the time people who have it don't even know it and have no symptoms or signs of illness. When compared to other illnesses, the severity of West Nile virus is minimal. For example, since it was first diagnosed in the U.S. in 1999, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed about 200 U.S. cases of WNV, including 23 deaths. By comparison, each year in the U.S. the flu afflicts literally millions of people and kills about 20,000.
West Nile virus is not communicable -- it cannot be transmitted from person to person or from animal to person. Thus, the best way to prevent infection is to prevent mosquito bites.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has compiled several informational resources to help the public understand this new virus and how to prevent it. DPHHS is working closely with other states as well as federal and local health officials to monitor for signs of the virus.
For example, DPHHS staff members are working closely with every county health department and with sentinel physicians to identify suspected cases of WNV. DPHHS is also working closely with the departments of Environmental Quality, Livestock, Agriculture and Fish, Wildlife and Parks on this project, as well as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Our recommendations at this time are:
- Take appropriate precautions to avoid insect bites by using repellant with DEET and wearing appropriate clothing
- Report any dead or ill-appearing birds to your local Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department
- Report any dead or ill-appearing horses to your local veterinarian.
- Reduce mosquito-breeding habitat by eliminating standing water where possible (i.e. in old tires or barrels).
- Horse owners should certainly be cautious of WNV and consult with their veterinarian concerning vaccinating their horses, but keep in mind that we are approaching the end of the mosquito season and with freezing temperatures, the threat of exposure to WNV will be significantly reduced.
