3 More Pinellas Chickens Test Positive for West Nile

Pinellas County is once again warning residents to avoid mosquito bites after three more sentinel chickens have tested positive for the potentially fatal West Nile virus.

The three chickens tested positive for the illness on Tuesday. One was located at Clearwater Nursery, another near Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg and the third at Walsingham Park in Seminole, the county stated in a media release. In July, the county had chickens in Tarpon Springs, St. Petersburg and Oldsmar test positive for the virus.

Populations of chickens are kept by the county to serve as sentinels for a number of mosquito-borne illnesses. They essentially serve as an early warning detection system that mosquitoes in the area are carrying the diseases. There are eight different locations across the county where sentinel chickens are kept and tested weekly.

West Nile virus produces no symptoms in about 70 to 80 percent of people infected, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people, however, can develop such symptoms fever, rash, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting and diarrhea. In less than 1 percent of those infected severe symptoms may develop. The infection may lead to encephalitis or meningitis, which is an inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissue, the CDC says. Of those who develop severe complications about 10 percent die.

“Following the recent heavy rains, Mosquito Control technicians continue to aggressively treat known breeding areas by ground and by air, and are responding to requests from residents,” the media release stated. “Additional fogging and treatment efforts are also ongoing in the areas where the positive sentinel chickens were located.”

Residents can do their part to control the mosquito population by eliminating ideal breeding locations from their yards. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a quarter inch of standing water, the county noted. It is asking residents to heed these precautions:

• Empty water from old tires, flower pots, garbage can lids, recycling containers, boat tarps and buckets
• Eliminate standing water near plumbing drains, air conditioner drips, septic tanks or rain gutters
• Flush birdbaths and wading pools weekly
• Flush bromeliads twice weekly or treat with a biological larvicide
• Change the water in outdoor pet dishes daily
• Keep pools adequately chlorinated
• Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating gambusia fish
• Cover rain barrels with fine mesh screening
• Repair rips or tears in door and window screens

For more information about mosquitoes and avoiding exposure, visit the Florida Department of Health online.

Image via Shutterstock