Harrison Residents: Summer Meters can save you money! Harrison water customers can earn credit during the summer months by using a Summer Meter. These Meters (available from the City) can be used for filling swimming pools, washing cars, or watering, and any water that passes through is deducted from your Sewer charges (over the 2,000 gal. minimum). Click here for more details. •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • Discount for Seniors Seniors age 65 or older get $1.00 off garbage pickup in the City of Harrison by just showing Driver's License. For more info call the Public Works office at 367-3725. •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  • West Nile Virus Update Provided by Tim Ingram, Hamilton County Health Commissioner • Email Hamilton County General Health District Website  •  SWARM Task Force Chart DRAIN, DUNK & PROTECT Cases down locally, but West Nile Virus threat is here to stay. Warm weather has returned to Hamilton County and with it we should also expect the return of mosquitoes. This spring and summer, I am encouraging homeowners to Drain, Dunk and Protect to help reduce the mosquito population and the risk of mosquito-born illnesses such as West Nile virus (WNV). Continued education efforts and diligence on the part of Hamilton County residents, has resulted in a steady decline in the prevalence of West Nile virus. In fact, human cases of WNV have declined from 29 countywide in 2002, to just one in 2004. While these numbers are reassuring, Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, warns us that WNV is likely here to stay. However, there are three simple steps you can take to help eliminate mosquito breeding sites around your home, avoid mosquito bites, and prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like WNV: DRAIN • Remove any standing water from your property. Check old tires, pet bowls, buckets, flower pots, children’s toys, and similar items that could hold stagnant water and become mosquito breeding sites. • Clean up litter or other incidental items in your yard. An upturned bottle cap can become a breeding site for thousands of mosquito larvae. • Change the water in birdbaths every three to four days. • Drain small puddles after heavy rainstorms. DUNK • Apply mosquito larvicide, sometimes called mosquito “dunks,” to areas of standing water that cannot be drained. The “dunks” are environmentally safe and won’t harm pets. PROTECT • Keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed. • Make sure windows have tight-fitting screens - repair tears or holes in screens. • Be aware of peak biting periods - night and early morning. • During peak periods, wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing - long sleeve shirts, pants and jackets. • Use appropriate insect repellents on exposed skin. The following products, registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing, are endorsed by the CDC. Always remember to read the product’s label before application. • DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) – Long endorsed by the CDC as a highly-effective mosquito repellent. May be applied along with sunscreen. • Picardidin (KBR 3023) – A common ingredient found in repellent products in Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia. • Oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] – Provides protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET. Not suitable for children under 3 years old. WNV is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system that can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. It is important to note that most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito will never become sick. However, we should all be aware of the symptoms of WNV. Symptoms may develop 3 to 14 days after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito. No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all. Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected will display symptoms which can include fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have been sick for several weeks. Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. While all residents of areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk, people over age 50 have the highest risk of developing severe WNV infections. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation. For more information on WNV, please contact the Hamilton County General Health District at (513) 946-7832 or visit our Web site at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org. And remember, for a mosquito-free summer, Drain, Dunk and Protect! Tim Ingram Hamilton County Health Commissioner
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