Advisory For UAlbany Campus Community

WEST NILE VIRUS

Two dead crows recently found on UAlbany's Uptown Campus on State Quad tested positive for West Nile Virus. While this is not a cause for alarm, you should be aware of the facts regarding this virus.

West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes and can infect humans if they are bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus. The incubation period is 3 – 14 days after being bitten. Persons who are at highest risk are those over the age of 50 and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy children and adults are at very low risk for infection. Less than 1% of people bitten will get the severe form of the illness

Symptoms of West Nile infection vary. Most people infected will have no symptoms. It is estimated that 20% of people who do become infected with West Nile have mild symptoms that include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph nodes. These will generally only last several days and disappear. West Nile cannot be transmitted from person to person.

The symptoms of the severe form of the infection include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

If you think you have symptoms of West Nile contact Student Health Services at 442-5454 or your own doctor. If you develop confusion, high fever, muscle weakness and/or severe headaches see a doctor immediately.

STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE TO PREVENT WEST NILE

• Use insect repellent containing DEET when outside (use only as manufactures suggest).

• Spray DEET on thin clothing as well as exposed skin as mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing.

• When possible wear long sleeve shirts and pants.

• Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and early evening, which are peak mosquito times.

• Report any holes in your screens to your quad information center.

• Empty or drain all standing water in the area. This will prevent mosquito reproduction.

• Immediately report to UPD at 442-3131 if you see any dead crows on campus. Do not ever touch a dead bird or animal.

STEPS TAKEN ON THIS CAMPUS FOR CONTROL OF WEST NILE

At the request of the Albany County Department of Health and as a routine step in Albany County's West Nile Virus prevention and control activities, a 150-day residual mosquito larvicide treatment was applied to the storm sewer catch basins at the University at Albany's Uptown & Downtown Campuses and Alumni Quad on August 11, 2002.

This larvicide application is a preventive measure consistent with West Nile Virus prevention and control recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health.

INFORMATION SOURCES

For further information, see the following Web sites:

Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov and click on "Health Topics A-Z," or the New York State Department of Health at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/westnile/guides/faqs.htm