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West Nile Virus exists primarily as an infection of the bird population.  It is transmitted from bird to bird by the bite of a mosquito.  Humans become infected through the bite of a mosquito that had previously fed on a bird carrying the virus.  Most people who are infected with West Nile Virus either have no symptoms or experience mild illness such as fever, headaches and body aches before fully recovering.  It is assumed, that once contracting West Nile Virus, the person develops a natural immunity from it for life.  However, immunity may wane in later years.  In areas where mosquitoes do carry the virus, very few mosquitoes, much less than 1%, are infected.  If the mosquito is infected, less than 1% of the people who get bitten and become infected will get severely ill.  The chances of becoming severely ill from any one mosquito bite is extremely small.  Children are not at high risk for being infected with West Nile Virus.  Persons older than 50 years old with a compromised immune system have the highest risk of severe disease. 

More Information

West Nile Virus is a disease primarily of the bird population. It is spread when a mosquito bites and extracts blood from an infected bird then subsequently bites an uninfected bird thereby transferring the virus.  Nearly all documented cases of a mosquito carrying the WNV have been found in Culex mosquitoes.  Adult Culex mosquitoes live in the upper levels of high trees in order to be close to birds which are their preferred source of blood.  Humans are one of the least desirable sources of blood for the Culex mosquito.  The larvae of the Culex mosquito is deposited and matures in small pools of stagnant water, typical breeding areas include pet water dishes, pool covers, wading pools, discarded tires and catch basins.  Bodies of water where the surface is subject to fluctuation or movement, such as lakes, rivers, ponds and flowing ditches, are not generally good breeding grounds for the Culex mosquito.

The single best method to minimize the possibility of contracting West Nile Virus is for people to avoid contact with mosquitoes.  The Township has prepared informational fliers that, over the next several months, will be sent to virtually all the residences within the Township advising of methods that can be used to minimize the possibility of being bitten by a mosquito carrying the WNV.

Another method to decrease the possibility of exposure to West Nile Virus is to reduce the population of the Culex mosquito.  This can be done by utilizing a larvicide that will prevent the Culex larvae from maturing into adult mosquitoes, or by applying an adulticide to control the mature mosquitoes.  For either of these methods to be effective it is important to accurately locate and identify the mosquito habitat and breeding grounds.

Township Program

Each year, since 2003, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners has passed a resolution which provides funding to cities, villages and townships within Oakland County to help combat the West Nile Virus.  Wateford Township has treated and will continue treating various storm sewer catch basins throughout the Township which may, through specific characteristics, have breeding populations of the Culex mosquito larva.  We stress, this is NOT a mosquito control program, but a program geared towards combating the mosquito known to carry the West Nile Virus.

Larvicide briquette - Used in street storm sewer catch basins for the control of the Culex mosquito larva.	Application - Larvicide briquettes are designed to slip through the grates of storm sewer catch basins, making the application process more efficient.