No signs of West Nile virus in Fernley

While other cities and counties have racked up positive results for West Nile Virus, Fernley has been free of the mosquito-borne virus this summer.

This is a success for a city that only began its official mosquito control program last year, said Keith Penner, director of parks and recreation for the city of Fernley. Other Western Nevada counties have had multiple cases of the virus.

"I believe it's because we have a really good larvicides program," he said Monday. "That's been our focus. No. 1 is mapping breeding sites. No. 2 is going after them real heavy with larvicides to keep them from maturing, hatching and biting people."

According to the last count from the Nevada Department of Agriculture, other counties have reported multiple positive results in mosquito pools and birds. So far Carson City has had a person under the age of 50 test positive for the mild form of West Nile Fever. Two positive tests in birds have also been verified.

A seasonal epidemic that flares up in the summer and continues into the fall, West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes that acquire the infection when they feed on infected birds, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In the past, Fernley was aided by mosquito abatement staff from Churchill and Washoe counties. Fernley started its own program in June 2005. It also credits its success so far to starting in May, a month earlier than surrounding jurisdictions. It has two full-time employees and two seasonal workers.

Serious symptoms, including a potentially fatal encephalitis, will occur in about one in 150 people infected with West Nile, but the infection is so mild in 80 percent of the people contracting it that there are no symptoms.

About 20 percent will experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

It's important to wear insect repellent when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Long sleeves and pants are recommended, and people should remove any standing water around their homes that could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Last year Fernley had two equine cases of West Nile and two positive results from testing mosquitos out of a trap, Penner said.

They doubled their spraying for larvae following those positive tests.