It's coming.

And people should prepare -but not panic.

That's the message from Coos County health officials and other experts who met last month to discuss their plans to prepare for the imminent arrival of the West Nile virus to Oregon.

Although the virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, likely will not arrive in Oregon until summer and may take even longer to travel to the coast, there are ways to prepare and compelling reasons to do so, experts say.

The disease has been detected in 46 states, including Washington and California, and can cause flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, weakness, swollen glands and rash. However, the majority of people exposed never become sick.

In rare cases, the virus can cause inflammation of the brain and result in serious illness, and in extreme cases, death. Less than 1 percent of those bitten by an infected mosquito will get the infection and one in five will develop symptoms, said Coos County Health Department Administrator Frances Smith.

The elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk. And for those who are wondering, there is no vaccine available for humans.

According to information provided by the Centers for Disease Control, the virus is an infection that lives in birds and is spread to humans and mammals by mosquitoes that have fed on an infected bird. It first appeared in the United States in 1999 in New York. Seven people died. Since then it has spread steadily westward. In 2002, cases jumped dramatically with 4,161 confirmed human cases and 277 deaths.

While people worry about contracting the disease, it's a deadlier threat to horses and other equines, according to veterinarian Joe Snyder of Myrtle Veterinary Hospital.

A total of 14,717 horses have been infected in 40 states and 4,300 died or were euthanized.

Sick horses won't necessarily be the first sign the disease is here. Dead birds likely will and those deaths should be reported to the health department, Smith advised.

The strain of West Nile virus circulating in the United States causes significant mortality in exotic and native bird species, especially in the American crow. The infection has been reported in more than 100 bird species.

What does all this mean to Coos County residents?

Smith and other officials are encouraging residents to protect themselves, their families and animals from being exposed to the virus, which is transmitted by 29 of the known 53 different species of mosquitoes in the United States.

According to Rich Hallmark, Licensed Pesticide Specialist with Oregon State University Extension Service, the most important step people can take is to make it tough for mosquitoes to breed.

"Breeding grounds are everywhere in our county," Hallmark said.

He advises residents to get rid of old tires and prevent stagnant water from pooling in gutters, animal water dishes, pools, birdbaths and other items.

Mosquito Prevention and Control:

The number of mosquitoes around homes can be reduced by eliminating standing water where mosquitoes grow and breed. This includes: € Disposing of refuse that can hold water, such as old containers and used tires. Tires have become the most important mosquito-breeding sites in the country. € Drilling holes in the bottom of recycling containers and check uncovered junk piles. € Cleaning clogged roof gutters annually. Check storm drains, leaky outdoor faucets, and window wells. € Emptying accumulated water in wheelbarrows, boats, pet dishes and ceramic pots. If possible, turn them over when not in use. € Not allowing water to stagnate in birdbaths, ornamental pools, water gardens or swimming pools and their covers. € Altering the landscape of your property to eliminate standing water. € Larvicides should be considered when standing water cannot be eliminated to control immature mosquitoes. Protect Yourself from Bites: Tips to help reduce the risk of being bitten by a mosquito include: € Making sure window and door screens are "bug tight." € Using proper outside lighting. Incandescent lights attract mosquitoes; fluorescent lights neither attract nor repel them. € Staying indoors at dawn, dusk and early evening when mosquitoes are most active. € To deter mosquitoes, use insect repellents on exposed skin or thin clothing. Source: USDA Pest Management Centers

"I'm interested in the environmental factors we can control to minimize standing water, like dumping water from old tires," Hallmark said.

Getting rid of standing water could decrease the possibility of infection by 70 percent, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Test your knowledge

Q. If you live in an area where West Nile virus has been reported and a mosquito bites you, are you likely to get sick? A. No. Even in areas where the virus is circulating, few mosquitoes are infected with the virus. Even if the mosquito is infected, less than 1 percent of people who are bitten and become infected will get severely ill. Q. Can you get West Nile encephalitis from another person? A. No. West Nile encephalitis is not transmitted from person to person. Q. Can you get West Nile virus directly from other insects or ticks? A. Infected mosquitoes are the primary source of the West Nile virus. Infected ticks have been found in Asia and Africa, but their role in transmission and maintenance of the virus is uncertain. They are not identified in any cases in the U.S. Q. Which animals have been found to be infected with West Nile? A. The majority of infections have been identified in birds. It also has been shown to infect horses, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels and domestic rabbits. Q. Can you get West Nile virus directly from birds? A. There is no evidence that a person can get the virus from handling live or dead infected birds. Q. Can you get infected by caring for an infected horse? A. There is no documented evidence of animal-to-person transmission of West Nile virus. Q. Can you get West Nile virus from eating infected game birds or animals? A. There is no evidence the virus is transmitted through consuming infected birds or animals. Good health practices call for any meat to be fully cooked. Q. Which states have the highest reported number of cases? A. Highest is Illinois with 879 cases and 60 deaths, followed by Michigan, 614 cases, 51 deaths; Ohio, 441 cases, 31 deaths; Indiana, 291 cases, 11 deaths; and Texas, 202 cases, 12 deaths. In states where the virus has been reported, California, Delaware, Montana, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Vermont have the lowest number of cases. Each state has reported one case with no deaths. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Smith said nuisance ordinances in every city in the county prohibit standing water.

"Cities do have the ability to do some enforcement if folks don't get rid of stagnant water," Smith said.

That doesn't solve the problem of stagnating water in wetlands. It's too expensive to monitor all for mosquitoes and mosquito larvae, Hallmark said, and filling wetlands is not a realistic option.

Coos County Commissioner John Griffith said it's important to find the worst stagnant water spots in the county and control those.

There also are natural ways to fight the disease's spread. People can build bat houses to attract the insect-loving mammals. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife's Alan Ritchey said swallows, swifts and several other species of birds feed on mosquitoes, too.

Stocking contained ponds with nonnative mosquito-eating Gambusia, can eliminate mosquitoes where no other natural controls are present. But fish cannot be placed in natural waterways because they eat or harm small or young native fish, young frogs and salamanders and beneficial aquatic insects, Ritchey said.

Gambusia are available from some pet shops, garden stores and nurseries. People should contact an ODFW biologist before purchasing them to determine if a site is legally suitable for the fish, Ritchey said.

On the people side, Coos County health nurse Donna Johnson suggested individuals protect themselves against possible infection by properly using mosquito repellent, by staying indoors or wearing long sleeves and pants at dawn, dusk and in the early evening when mosquitoes are most active. People also should install secure screens on doors and windows. Johnson also recommended the proper type of outdoor lights. Incandescent lights attract mosquitoes. Fluorescent lights reportedly neither attract nor repel mosquitoes. Insecticides also can be used, but are expensive and environmentally unfriendly.

Right now, county residents are focusing much of their efforts on protecting horses.

Snyder and other veterinarians were busy last fall vaccinating horses against the virus and are even busier now. He estimates the clinic has vaccinated more than 300 horses. After the initial two shots, a yearly booster is needed to keep the vaccine operative.

Thursday was no exception, Myrtle Point veterinarian Dr. Amy Nicholson vaccinated eight horses for Ivan Warnock of Coquille, along with five horses belonging to a family friend. Candy Warnock said she tries to keep abreast of the latest information on the virus and has been tracking its progression.

"I care about my animals and we vaccinate for everything else," Warnock said. "Some people are waiting until they know it's necessary and I was doing that. But I thought, 'It's coming,' so it makes sense to go ahead and take care of it."

David and Karrina Scolari, owners of Milk-E-Way Feed and Trucking in Coquille, also have vaccinated their horses. They often take their horses to Eastern Oregon and figured it was wise to vaccinate, said Phyllis Love, who works in the store.

The Scolaris offered a vaccination clinic in September 2002, and have encouraged others to have their horses vaccinated.

Peggie and James Hendricksen, owners of Family Four Stables, also held vaccination clinics for local horse owners in late 2002.

"We did it because of the fact that it was in Idaho and getting closer," Peggie said. "I thought it would be prudent to get with the program before it gets here, rather than when it is here and too late."

The main message Snyder wants to impart is to prepare for the virus, but not to panic.

"This is fairly low-level stuff we're talking about," Snyder said. "Although we have a lot of standing water in the county, we don't have a lot of mosquitoes."

Art Poole, OSU Extension Service agent, agreed.

"A lot of places in the United States are a lot worse for mosquitoes," Poole said. "And there are natural ways to minimize them. I think we can protect ourselves in a common sense manner."

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For more information on West Nile Virus, public health officials at the Oregon Department of Human Services have established a toll-free telephone information line at (866) 703-4636 (INFO).

DHS established the statewide telephone line as one way to provide physicians and the public access to information. Recorded topics include disease facts, symptoms, how to reduce the risk of infection and, for physicians, clinical information for diagnosing, treating and reporting a West Nile virus case.

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On the Net:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov