PUBLIC HEALTH
West Nile Virus, Mosquitos, and Green Pools
West Nile virus is now endemic in Clark County, we see the virus every year during the mosquito season, which occurs April through November.
Following transmission by an infected mosquito, West Nile virus multiplies in the person’s blood system and crosses into the brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes inflammation of brain tissue. People over 60 are at higher risk of the disease.
In the worst cases, encephalitis or meningitis occurs, with neck stiffness, confusion, or seizures. Recovery for these patients may take weeks to months. The risk of death among patients with an affected nervous system is about 10 percent.
Currently there is no West Nile virus vaccine available for humans.
The most effective way to avoid West Nile virus disease is to prevent mosquito bites. And the best way to prevent mosquitos is to use insect repellent when outdoors and to help prevent green pools in our neighborhoods.
The bad news is that today green pools are more common than a few years ago. Along with any other standing water source they can be a breeding site for mosquitos.
To report a green swimming pool, standing, and/or stagnant water contact the Clark County Public Response Office
https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/FixIt_Clark_County
N95 Respirators/Masks
Question How can you tell if a respirator is really an N95?
Answer It must be approved by a government agency called NIOSH. NIOSH stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The NIOSH approval number and approval label are key to identifying NIOSH-approved respirators. The NIOSH approval label can be found on or within the packaging of the respirator or sometimes on the respirator itself. The required labeling of NIOSH-approved N95 filtering face-piece respirators includes the NIOSH name, the approval number, filter designations, lot number, and model number to be printed on the respirator. You can verify that your respirator approvals are valid by checking the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL) by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/cel/default.html.
West Nile virus is now endemic in Clark County, we see the virus every year during the mosquito season, which occurs April through November.
Following transmission by an infected mosquito, West Nile virus multiplies in the person’s blood system and crosses into the brain. The virus interferes with normal central nervous system functioning and causes inflammation of brain tissue. People over 60 are at higher risk of the disease.
In the worst cases, encephalitis or meningitis occurs, with neck stiffness, confusion, or seizures. Recovery for these patients may take weeks to months. The risk of death among patients with an affected nervous system is about 10 percent.
Currently there is no West Nile virus vaccine available for humans.
The most effective way to avoid West Nile virus disease is to prevent mosquito bites. And the best way to prevent mosquitos is to use insect repellent when outdoors and to help prevent green pools in our neighborhoods.
The bad news is that today green pools are more common than a few years ago. Along with any other standing water source they can be a breeding site for mosquitos.
To report a green swimming pool, standing, and/or stagnant water contact the Clark County Public Response Office
https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/FixIt_Clark_County
N95 Respirators/Masks
Question How can you tell if a respirator is really an N95?
Answer It must be approved by a government agency called NIOSH. NIOSH stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
The NIOSH approval number and approval label are key to identifying NIOSH-approved respirators. The NIOSH approval label can be found on or within the packaging of the respirator or sometimes on the respirator itself. The required labeling of NIOSH-approved N95 filtering face-piece respirators includes the NIOSH name, the approval number, filter designations, lot number, and model number to be printed on the respirator. You can verify that your respirator approvals are valid by checking the NIOSH Certified Equipment List (CEL) by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/cel/default.html.