Public Health Department
West Nile Virus News
October 27, 2004 - Third human case of West Nile Virus confirmed in Wayne County
Public Health Director Anahid Kulwicki announced that the County has a third confirmed human case of West Nile Virus. The 57-year-old Southgate man was hospitalized in early September and has been released.
September 14, 2004 ---Wayne County has second human case of West Nile Virus
Westland, Mich. - Public Health Director Anahid Kulwicki announced the County's second human case of West Nile Virus. The second case involves a 75-year-old Westland resident who was hospitalized in August and has since made a full recovery.
Wayne County sends 100,000 West Nile flyers home with school kids
August 30, 2004 --- With the start of the school year, the Wayne County Department of Public Health is asking children and their families to help eliminate the risk of West Nile Virus.
Wayne County establishes drop-off sites for dead birds for West Nile Virus testing
August 08, 2004 --- Residents can help public health officials detect the presence of West Nile Virus in local communities by dropping off dead birds at five sites across Wayne County. The birds will be tested. Any positive results will be tracked by zip code based on where the birds were found; only one positive result is needed for each zip code.
Wayne County distributes mosquito larvicide to 42 communities to help combat West Nile Virus
August 02, 2004 --- County Executive Robert A. Ficano and Department of Public Health Director Anahid Kulwicki kicked-off a new mosquito abatement program to help local communities fight West Nile Virus. Wayne County and Clarke Mosquito Control officials on Monday, August 2, began distributing 200 cases containing a total of 160,000 larvicide pouches to representatives from the 42 communities served by the county health department.
Wayne County departments take action against mosquito breeding areas
April 21, 2004 --- The Wayne County Department of Environment and the Department of Public Services, which includes the roads and parks divisions, will attack mosquito breeding areas on county property to help combat the threat of West Nile Virus. Both departments will identify areas of stagnant or standing water and use a larvicide product to kill mosquito eggs and larva throughout the mosquito season. Larviciding breeding areas will reduce the mosquito population. Department of Environment Director Kurt Heise said, "Stagnant, standing water areas will be targeted because mosquitoes cannot breed in flowing water."
Wayne County alerts residents: the biggest threat from mosquitoes and West Nile Virus is in homes and backyards
April 21, 2004 --- Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano and Wayne County Department of Public Health officials on Wednesday issued an important alert for residents this mosquito season: the best protection against mosquitoes and the threat of West Nile Virus starts at home. "As we head into the warm months of spring and summer, we all need to remember that the biggest threat from mosquitoes is around our homes and in our backyards," said Ficano. "We each have a lot of control when it comes to preventing mosquitoes and the threat of West Nile Virus."
Wayne County reminds residents to report dead crows and other birds
April 21, 2004 --- Since West Nile Virus first became a public health issue, the death of crows and other birds has been used as an early indicator for the presence of West Nile Virus in communities. Anahid Kulwicki, Director of the Wayne County Department of Public Health, said Wednesday that dead birds continue to be part of an early warning system for the presence of West Nile Virus. In 2003, health officials used zip codes to track findings of dead birds, which helped identify specific areas where WNV was present; the previous year, the reports were tracked by city or township.
The Wayne County Department of Public Health West Nile Virus (WNV) Seminar
April 21, 2004 --- Over 100 community and municipal officials learned how they can help combat the virus and respond to WNV cases. Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, Department of Public Health Director Anahid Kulwicki, and West Nile Virus experts were available for media interviews. West Nile Virus was first detected in Michigan in 2001, primarily in birds and other animals bitten by infected mosquitoes. In 2002, the first human cases occurred, including 15 deaths in Wayne County.