FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 5, 2009
DHEC update on S.C. mosquito-borne disease findings
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mosquito-borne disease tallies for the state in 2009 include 18 lab confirmations of West Nile virus and 14 of eastern equine encephalitis virus, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
| COUNTY | SPECIES | NUMBER POSITIVE | DATE (2009) |
| Charleston | Bird | 1 | Aug 02 |
| Charleston | Mosquito | 3 | Aug 11 |
| Charleston | Mosquito | 4 | Aug 25 |
| Charleston | Mosquito | 1 | Aug 18 |
| Charleston | Human | 1 | Aug 23 |
| Charleston | Human | 1 | Aug 24 |
| Charleston | Mosquito | 2 | Aug 25 |
| Charleston | Mosquito | 2 | Sept 01 |
| Richland | Human | 1 | Aug 07 |
| Richland | Bird | 1 | Aug 23 |
| Richland | Mosquito | 1 | Sep 01 |
| COUNTY | SPECIES | NUMBER POSITIVE | DATE (2009) |
| Clarendon | Horse | 2 | Aug 02 |
| Clarendon | Horse | 1 | Aug 17 |
| Colleton | Horse | 2 | Jun 20 |
| Darlington | Horse | 1 | Aug 23 |
| Darlington | Horse | 1 | Aug 05 |
| Darlington | Horse | 1 | Aug 15 |
| Florence | Horse | 1 | Jul 15 |
| Kershaw | Horse | 1 | Aug 14 |
| Lee | Horse | 1 | Aug 06 |
| Orangeburg | Horse | 1 | Sep 03 |
| Sumter | Horse | 1 | Jun 08 |
| Sumter | Horse | 1 | Jun 23 |
"We urge the public to assist us in West Nile virus surveillance by submitting dead crows or blue jays to a local DHEC county environmental health office between now and November 30," said Chris Evans, a Ph.D. entomologist with DHEC’s Bureau of Laboratories. "Check DHEC’s Web site for information about how to safely submit dead birds at: http://www.scdhec.gov/westnile, then click on "Report Dead Birds for WNV Testing."
"Despite the cooler weather of the fall season, residents still need to protect themselves from mosquito bites,” Evans said. “The risk for West Nile virus transmission to humans is always greater toward the end of mosquito season.
“Mosquitoes can be active in the fall, even after extended periods of cold weather. In fact, 21 percent of human cases and 52 percent of equine cases from 2002-2007 in South Carolina occurred in October and November.”
Evans said that people can protect themselves from mosquito bites by:
- Using a repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Follow the label directions when using any repellent;
- Avoiding the outdoors at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active;
- Wearing long sleeves and pants; and
- Keeping property clear of standing water in which mosquitoes can breed.
For more information or assistance with mosquito control efforts, contact your local mosquito control program. For more information on mosquito-borne disease visit: http://www.scdhec.gov/westnile.
Questions may also be referred to DHEC’s local county public health departments during regular office hours. Contact information is available for your county in the phone book or online at: http://www.scdhec.gov/health/.
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NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: We encourage reporters and editors to check the site regularly for updates, maps and charts. As they are confirmed, WNV positives will be posted to the WNV Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/westnile then click on “S.C. Maps & Data” for updates about surveillance. In case of a human death from WNV, a statewide news release will be issued immediately.
For more information:
Thom Berry - (803) 898-3885
E-mail - berrytw@dhec.sc.gov
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