Jeffco Public Health-Zoonosis and West Nile Virus (WNV)

Jefferson County Public Health Zoonosis and West Nile Virus (WNV)
Newsletter # 2 June 24, 2010
ZOONOSIS

RABIES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
JCPH has tested 38 animals for rabies so far in 2010 with 7 bats and 7 skunks. This week Jefferson County had its first bat that tested positive for rabies. There were no human exposures but the family dog was found playing with the bat. The dog was current with its rabies vaccinations so it was protected. JCPH encourages everyone to protect their domestic pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets) and livestock by having them vaccinated for rabies.
In addition to rabies vaccinations for pets and livestock, there are additional precautions to prevent possible exposure to rabies:
• Do not feed, touch, or handle wild animals.
• Teach children to leave wildlife alone.
• Do not leave pet food or livestock feed in areas accessible to wildlife.
• Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision.
• Spay or neuter your pets to reduce the number of unwanted or stray animals in your community.
• Call your local animal control office to remove stray animals from your neighborhood or Jefferson County Animal Control at 303-271-5070
• Call the Colorado Division of Wildlife at (303)297-1192 if you have problems with wild animals.

RABIES IN COLORADO
January 1 – June 22, 2010
Lab Confirmed Rabies Positive Animals

Year to date known/strongly suspected exposures to lab confirmed rabid animals: 15 humans and 81 domestic animals.

Number of lab confirmed rabid animals with known exposures to humans: 5
Number of lab confirmed rabid animals with known/suspect exposures to pets/domestic animals: 33
* Testing at CDC of these animals indicated infection with the variant associated with skunks in south central U.S.
** Testing at CDC is pending on these specimens.
***CDC was not able to perform testing for variant typing, as there was insufficient remaining tissue.
A suspect rabid horse from Franktown, Douglas County, had conflicting rabies DFA results in CO; results from CDC did not support a positive result; therefore, rabies could not be definitively ruled out.

Rabies by Month 2010 (by date of report- results from CDPHE or CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory)

El Paso County created an educational skunk rabies video for the public and recently adapted it for statewide use with input from DOW, CDPHE, and Colorado Department of Agriculture.
The video "Colorado Skunk Rabies Video for the Public" can be viewed on the CDPHE rabies webpage: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/rabies/

View Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Skunk surveillance map: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoonosis/rabies/skunkrabiesmap.pdf

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Because of the possibility that rapid skunks can expose other wildlife to the disease the public should take precautions to minimize interaction with wildlife. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has several resources for dealing with wildlife:
CDOW web site http://wildlife.state.co.us or call the Denver CDOW Headquarters at 303 297 1192.

General topics covered on the CDOW web site include:
What wild animals are protected?
What conditions are required for trapping, relocation, or disposal of wildlife?
How landowners are allowed to do to manage wildlife on their property?
CDOW stance on the feeding of wildlife

PETTING ZOOS, DISEASE AND HAND WASHING
Exhibits such as petting zoos and fairs allow children and adults to have the thrilling experience of coming face to face with animals. This interaction allows people to learn more about animals and helps to build an important human-animal bond.

Unfortunately, many people become sick every year because animals in these exhibits sometimes carry germs that are harmful to humans (Centers for Disease Control (CDC)). Therefore it is essential that everyone wash their hands after petting and handling these animals. The CDC recommends:

Hand-Washing Stations
• Locate the nearest hand-washing at the event
• Always wash your hands after petting or touching the animal and/or the animal enclosure, especially before eating and drinking.
• Running water and soap are best. Use hand gels only if running water and soap are not available.

Food and Drinks
• Keep food and drinks out of animal areas.
• Do not share food or drinks with animals.
• Do not eat or drink raw (unpasteurized) dairy products.

Children
• Closely supervise children under 5 years old
• Never allow children to put their hands, toys or other objects like pacifiers in their mouth while interacting with animals.
• Supervise hand-washing to guarantee that it is done correctly.

WNV NATIONAL
Outside of Colorado, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) have posted 3 human cases of WNV fever 2 from Georgia and 1 from Mississippi.

For updates during the 2010 season visit the CDC and USGS websites at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/Mapsactivity/surv&control07Maps.htm
http://diseasemaps.usgs.gov/wnv_us_human.html

WNV COLORADO
Mosquito surveillance and testing in Colorado officially began on June 1, 2010. There have not been any reported human cases.

Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) has posted the testing results for 26 mosquito pools from across Colorado and they were all negative for WNV.

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/Zoonosis/wnv/index.html

WNV JEFFERSON COUNTY
Mosquito Surveillance: Ottertail Environmental began larval surveillance on June 7, 2010. They are monitoring and inspecting “mosquito breeding sites" throughout the county and will continue this process into the month of September.

During the past week, our contractor conducted mosquito trapping at 11 locations in the county. The trapping yielded a total of 446 mosquitoes with 107 Culex mosquitoes. Two mosquito pools were submitted from Jefferson County to the CDPHE lab for testing and both were negative for WNV.

During the past week there were 253 larval habitat site surveillance inspections and 29 of those sites were treated with larvicide. We will continue to remind everyone to:

• Use DEET insect repellant for ALL outdoor activities (even out to get the mail). Additional insect repellants available are Picaridin and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, (Always follow Label Directions Carefully).
• At Dawn and Dusk - outdoor activities should be limited, because it is at these times that mosquitoes most active
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors and be sure to cover feet and ankles if you have outdoor activities.
• DRAIN and EMPTY all containers (toys, kiddy pools, flowerpots, buckets) in your yards because mosquitoes carrying WNV can bite at anytime and anywhere, even in your own yards. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and running freely.
• Check your home to make sure all windows and doors have screens and are in good condition. This will reduce the chance of mosquitoes and bats gaining entry into your home.
• For additional information from repellents to how to protect you and your family around home go to http://health.jeffco.us and go to WNV under animal borne diseases.

Mosquito Complaint Hotline:
Ottertail Environmental operates a toll free telephone line for citizen reports and concerns, that number is 1-888-774-2161 and locally the local number is 303 273-2878.

For More Information on Zoonosis and WNV visit our web site at http://health.jeffco.us You may also contact the Jefferson County Public Health Zoonoses Program:
David Volkel: 303-271-5730 or Dr. Jim Dale, 303-271-5718