NEW MEXICO ALREADY HAS ITS FIRST CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS THIS YEAR … EARLIER THAN USUAL ACCORDING TO DR. PAUL ETTESTAD WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT … BUT NOT UNUSUAL. HE SAYS THE INCREASED RAIN PREDICTED FOR THE SOUTHWEST THIS YEAR COULD BE A PROBLEM NOT ONLY FOR WEST NILE VIRUS … BUT FOR HANTAVIRUS AND PLAGUE.
THE RAINS WILL SPUR GROWTH OF VEGETATION, WHICH ANIMALS THAT SPREAD DISEASE FEED ON. THE INCREASE OF THAT VEGETATION ALSO INCREASES THE BIRD AND MOUSE POPULATION THAT BRING ON HANTAVIRUS.
ETTESTAD SAYS IT’S THE SAME FOR PLAGUE AND WEST NILE, WHICH IS CARRIED BY FLEAS ON RABBITS AND WOOD RATS AND CAN BE SPREAD TO HOUSE PETS.
HE SAYS SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS … LONG SLEEVES, BUG REPELLANT WITH DEET, AND ESPECIALLY GETTING RID OF STANDING WATER IN YOUR YARD … WILL HELP.
