New West Nile case reported; insect repellent hard to find

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 14, 2002

The hottest selling item in southwest Mississippi now is bugrepellent as residents look for ways to protect themselves againstthe West Nile virus.

Health officials Tuesday confirmed the second human case of WestNile in Lincoln County. The Lincoln County case was one of sevennew human cases announced. Other counties with a new case areClarke, Hinds, Lamar, Madison, Pike and Rankin.

Everything from sprays and lotions to candles and sticky paperhave disappeared off the shelves of convenience stores, pharmaciesand general stores faster than employees can keep the items instock.

“We’ve sold out, and the wholesaler we buy from is in Louisiana,and they’ve sold out too,” said Robert Watts, owner of a Brookhavendrug store that usually has plenty of insect repellentavailable.

Even chain stores are having a hard time getting their hands onbottles of spray repellent. Store managers say their sales havesignificantly increased since the West Nile virus (WNV), which istransmitted through mosquito bites, was reported in the area twoweeks ago.

“It’s definitely picked up,” said Mark Springfield, assistantmanager of a grocery store in Brookhaven, while looking at a halfempty shelf that was completely stocked with bug spray a few weeksago.

While mosquito repellent sales usually rise each summer, anextra boost started when cases of WNV were reported in Louisiana inJuly. The repellents really started flying off the shelves atstores in the area when a Brookhaven woman was diagnosed with WNVin early August.

“I’m buying a case of (bug repellent) every week and normally Icould go a whole month before I order any,” said Bernadette Foret,a manager at a general store in Brookhaven.

She also noted that citronella candles, which can be usedoutdoors to deter mosquitoes and other insects, have almost soldout the last few weeks.

“They have been buying a lot. Everybody’s afraid of getting it(WNV),” she added.

Since a vaccine is not available for WNV, Mississippi residentsare being urged to take preventive measures.

“If you live in Mississippi, you’re at risk,” said Dr. EdThompson, state health officer. “Make no mistake, there will bemore cases of West Nile virus in Mississippi.”

Preventive measures include staying indoors at dawn and duskwhen mosquitoes are more prevalent, wearing long sleeves and longpants when outdoors, and applying repellent to skin andclothing.

Symptoms of WNV include fever, headaches and physical or mentaldisorientation. Anyone with such symptoms should seek medicalattention immediately.