– Mardi Ford

– The Observer

More than a month since the first Union County case of equine West Nile was confirmed by the Oregon Public Health lab, positive results in mosquito populations have now been confirmed.

Kelly Beehler, Union County Vector Control, reported Monday in a press release issued with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, that five of 18 samples from locations routinely monitored by the county tested positive for West Nile virus. The agencies received the positive confirmation from the state lab Friday.

"The only surprise is that we didn’t find it sooner," said Beehler, adding that recent warmer weather has increased mosquito activity, making it easier to trap them.

Two of the positive samples were taken from areas surrounding the city of Union one near the Cove and Union highway and the other near Catherine Creek, Beehler said.

The other three were taken from the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

"The last thing we want is for Ladd Marsh to become a nuisance. We already have a plan to increase proactive treatment next year," said Bruce Eddy of the ODFW, which manages the Ladd Marsh Area.

Eddy said this year the marsh was divided into three areas with regards to mosquito population control. He and Beehler have worked closely on a management plan for next year that will increase the areas of the county West Nile control program at Ladd Marsh.

"We have a good working relationship. It’s a positive step," Beehler said.

Currently, approximately one-third of Ladd Marsh is what Eddy referred to as the "have at it" areas of warm, shallow water that this year vector control has been given a free hand to treat with larvicide. About one-half of the marsh is considered a review area. Eddy said the county is allowed to apply larvicide there as well, but ODFW prefers they check with them first.

"Mostly so we don’t end up on top of each other," he said.

The third areas have deep water that threatened or endangered species are more apt to inhabit, Eddy said.

"Those are areas we have to check with our federal partners before we could allow any treatment. But mosquitoes don’t generally populate the deeper, colder water," he added.

Last weekend, a special hunt was held at the Ladd Marsh area. Fish and Wildlife personnel handed out flyers to all hunters entering the area informing them of the positive test results and reminding them to take precautions against being bitten, handling any harvested birds or game, and to thoroughly cook any wild game before eating.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, West Nile virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus is contained within the salivary glands in a mosquito’s mouth. The mosquito contracts the virus from feeding on infected birds.

However, as of yet there is no indication such as dead birds, especially crows of an infected bird population at Ladd Marsh, Eddy said.

In addition, the CDC said there is no evidence to support a human-to-human or animal-to-human transmission of the disease. The CDC also reports approximately 20 percent of people who become infected with the virus develop symptoms, and that one in 150 will develop a severe illness.

Currently, Oregon has confirmed 50 human cases of West Nile virus. According to Lisa Ladendorff, public health director, although local suspect blood samples have been sent to the state lab for testing, there has not been a confirmed case of human West Nile virus in Union County. West Nile was first confirmed in the county in a horse on Aug. 17.