DOVER — The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control confirmed West Nile Virus was detected in Delaware for the first time this year on Friday, July 26, 2024.
DNREC caught the cases via sentinel chickens which monitor the state for mosquito-borne illnesses. Three sentinel chicken stations in New Castle County confirmed positive tests, as well as one in Kent County and one in Sussex County.
Eight sentinel chickens sampled July 22 by the DNREC Mosquito Control Section tested positive by the Delaware Division of Public Health Laboratory July 24, according to a press release.
“Encountering eight virus-positive chickens in just one week is above the typical weekly rate for our program’s West Nile Virus findings, but perhaps reflects what seems to be an active West Nile Virus season thus far this year elsewhere in the Northeast,” Dr. William Meredith, mosquito control section administrator, said.
While there have been no reported human West Nile Virus cases in Delaware in 2024 so far, the possibility of contracting mosquito-transmitted diseases will continue until colder autumn temperatures arrive, Dr. Meredith continued.
The DNREC Mosquito Control Section monitors these diseases by collecting blood samples each week starting in early July into the fall from the state’s network of outdoor-caged sentinel chickens that are humanely housed and handled, it said.
In a press release, DNREC said most people infected with West Nile Virus do not develop symptoms, with only about 20 percent displaying symptoms, but a small number of people can develop neurological problems or paralysis and could die.
The Public Health Lab reports that Delaware had four confirmed cases of neuroinvasive West Nile Virus in 2023, and none so far this year, DNREC confirmed in a release.
Avoiding these viruses is as easy as avoiding mosquitos, which are most active from dusk to dawn, according to the agency.
DNREC said its Mosquito Control Division may conduct spraying in areas where the diseases have been located, but hasn’t initiated any efforts yet.
Residents can also contribute to lessening the chance of mosquito-borne disease transmission through eliminating mosquito habitat by draining or removing outdoor items that collect water.
The viruses pose particular danger to horses, DNREC said, and recommends vaccinating animals and getting booster shots each year. Other steps include keeping the animals indoors during peak times, applying repellent graded for horses and changing out water troughs every 2-3 days.
Neither disease has a specific drug treatment, and infections in horses are fatal in 70-90 percent of equine encephalitis cases and 30 percent of West Nile Virus cases, according to DNREC.
More information about mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases is available from the following resources:
- For requests for mosquito relief in upstate areas from Dover north, contact Mosquito Control’s Glasgow field office at 302-836-2555.
- For requests for mosquito relief in downstate areas south of Dover, contact Mosquito Control’s Milford field office at 302-422-1512.
- For animal health questions, contact the DDA Poultry and Animal Health Section at 302-698-4500.
- To report suspected cases of human WNV, call the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology toll-free at 888-295-5156.
- For more information on West Nile virus or eastern equine encephalitis, visit gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm
Local Delaware State
Most Popular
Comments / 0