ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center And AVMA Offer Pet Safety Tips During Mosquito Spraying To Prevent Spread Of West Nile Virus

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Tuesday, 12 August 2003

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the ASPCA list safety tips for pet owners for the second straight year.

As more cases of West Nile virus-associated illness have been diagnosed in people and horses, communities have taken steps to prevent spread of the virus. Mosquito control is the most effective means of preventing spread of the West Nile virus and many communities are including spray application of pesticides in their control programs. Although approved pesticides for mosquito control pose minimal risk when used by professionals, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and the offer the following tips to help pet owners limit their pets' exposure to these pesticides:

Steps to Reduce Pet Exposure to Pesticides Used for Mosquito Control

• Know when pesticides will be sprayed in your community.


• Keep pets indoors during times when pesticides are being sprayed. Elderly or debilitated animals or those with preexisting health conditions, such as heart disease or asthma, may be more sensitive to airborne pesticides and chemicals.


• Close windows and turn off window-unit air conditioners when spraying is taking place in the immediate area.


• Bring pet dishes, toys, and other items inside while pesticides are being sprayed. If these items have been accidentally exposed to the spray, wash the items with soap and water and rinse well before reintroducing the items to your pets.


• Horses should be kept in their stalls or in a lean-to during spraying.


• Cover water troughs and water buckets during spraying.


• Cover fishponds during spraying, as fish can be sensitive to certain pesticides.


• If you suspect that your pet is experiencing difficulties, contact your veterinarian immediately.

West Nile viral encephalitis is a mosquito-borne infection of the brain caused by the West Nile virus. West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people and animals. Wild birds, horses, and humans are the species most often affected; however, the virus has also been identified in cats, dogs, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels and domestic rabbits. Although these latter species may become infected, they rarely develop clinical signs of disease.

Risk of contracting West Nile virus is low. In areas where mosquitoes carry the virus, less than 1% are actually infected. Even if mosquitoes are infected, less than 1% of people bitten and infected by those mosquitoes become severely ill.

Most infections in humans are relatively mild, with flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, body aches and, in some cases, skin rash and swollen lymph glands. Signs of more severe infections include high fever, neck stiffness, muscle weakness, convulsions and paralysis. Death rates associated with severe infection range from 3% to 15% and are highest among the elderly.

For more poison prevention tips, please visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's Web site at www.apcc.aspca.org. For more information about West Nile virus and ensuring your pet's good health, contact your veterinarian and visit the American Veterinary Medical Association's Web site at www.avma.org.

For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org