LPB Presents: West Nile Virus Answers

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

mod2: Thank you everyone for joining us this evening!

Carlton: I want to be tested - where do I go and what do they do?

raoult: Getting tested is not very useful. There is no treatment when you have a mild infection. If you absolutely want to be tested you may go to a physician or hospital and ask to be tested by a private lab

Carlton: The show was great - but where do I go for more information?

Jeanne: Is there any way to protect my outdoor dogs?

Madeline McAndrew: Visit the Department of Health and Hospitals' Office of Public Health website at www.FightTheBiteLouisiana.com for more information.

michael: Should we be concerned about pools that are not maintained for months? Tires and potted plants are places for mosquito to breed and are reported in the media, shouldn't poorly maintained pools be brought to the publics attention, too?

maryl: Keep fresh water in the pools, empty bird baths, etc so the eggs cannot hatch nor can the larvae survive to become pupae & emerge as adults.

Mod1: Welcome, Donna!

mosquitodr: For the dog best thing to do is keep the water bowls empty every 3 days to keep mosquito breeding down. Also spray around dog pens and kennels with approved residual insecticides such permethrin.

Jeanne: Is there a vaccine for dogs & cats?

donna: What about my backyard chickens? Can they be carriers? Is vaccination expensive?

Alma Roy: Jeanne, there is no approved vaccine for dogs and cats. The only vaccine approved for West Nile is for horses.

Jeanne: Thank you.

mosquitodr: Swimming pools that are in use and being treated with chemicals for swimming will not breed mosquitoes. Pools that are not in use and have covers or are filled with organic matter breed mosquitoes and should be drained.

Alma Roy: Donna, backyard chickens are not reservoir for the virus. Chickens that are infected do not have a high viremia or a large number of viruses in the blood and thus cannot transmit virus

Carlton: Asthmatics can't stand the spraying cities do - Is there another way to treat these things?

Madeline McAndrew: Carlton, protect yourself by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves, and remove standing water.

raoult: If you take precautions to stay away from the area at the time of the spraying, it probably will not affect asthma. Stay inside at the time you hear the truck. The droplets of insecticide do not stay in the air for extensive periods of time.

Carlton: Thanks for a great show!

Mod1: Well, we have about 5 more minutes left on the chat. Are there any more questions?

Carlton: Thanks for a great show!

donna: Great show

Mod1: LPB would like to thank all of our guest panelists, viewers and chatters for participating tonight.

Mod1: Look for a transcript of this chat session at http://www.lpb.org/programs/westnile/

Mod1: Good night!