The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County is alerting residents after several sentinel chickens tested positive for West Nile virus.
DOH-Manatee and the Manatee County Mosquito Control District are coordinating surveillance and mosquito-control efforts, including source reduction to eliminate places where mosquitoes breed.
Source reduction focuses on removing or modifying areas with standing water. Residents can help by emptying water from items such as buckets, tires, flowerpots and other containers around homes and businesses. Mosquito control efforts can also include draining or modifying ditches, stormwater systems and other areas where water collects when appropriate.
Sentinel chickens are used as an early-warning surveillance tool for mosquito-borne viruses. The chickens can develop antibodies after exposure to viruses such as West Nile without developing the type of illness seen in humans. Positive tests can indicate that infected mosquitoes are circulating in the area and help health officials determine where increased monitoring or mosquito-control measures may be needed.
Health officials are urging residents to take precautions against mosquito bites by using insect repellent, wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs when practical, maintaining window and door screens, and eliminating standing water around their properties.
DOH-Manatee conducts surveillance for several mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue.
Residents are also encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission because reports can assist with monitoring mosquito-borne diseases.
Information about mosquito prevention is available through the Manatee County Mosquito Control District, while statewide mosquito-borne disease surveillance information is available through the Florida Department of Health.