LPB Presents: West Nile Virus Answers

Louisiana Publc Broadcasting presents:
West Nile Virus Answers
A Statewide Town Meeting

It has killed eight Louisiana residents and caused more than 170 illnesses in the state in the past four months. Find out the facts about West Nile Virus and the mosquitoes that cause it when Louisiana Public Broadcasting hosts a town meeting called West Nile Virus Answers on Wednesday, September 4 at 8PM. A taped version of the show will air Saturday, September 7 at 6PM on WLAE-TV32 in New Orleans.

Up until three years ago, the West Nile Virus was found only in Africa, Eastern Europe and West Asia. Since arriving in the United States, it has infected horses in 27 states and humans in 18 states. Mosquitoes acquire the virus from infected birds and pass it on to other birds, animals and people. The virus can cause encephalitis, an infection of the brain, in humans and animals.

This 60-minute special will include experts in entomology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, agriculture and state health officials. It will provide information on what is being done to combat the disease-carrying mosquitoes, what you can do to reduce mosquito breeding grounds around your home, and how to protect yourself during the prime mosquito hours at night.

Viewers around the state will be able to call in their questions to the panel of experts at 1-800-959-8363 or they can e-mail their questions to westnile@lpb.org. Immediately after the program, there will be a live 30-minute chat on the LPB website: www.lpb.org/talk.

This program is being done in cooperation with the Louisiana Office of Public Health and the LSU Agricultural Extension Service.

For more information, contact Bob Neese at LPB at 1-800-272-8161, ext. 4274.