HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 084-2020 - Fl Dept Health Illness-Alert West Nile Virus
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OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 084-2020
To: Mayor Gabriel Groisman and Members of the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager
Date: June 12, 2020
Subject: The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County Mosquito-Borne
Illnesses Alert for West Nile Virus Dated June 11, 2020.
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to transmit to you information contained
within the attached notice of a The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County
Mosquito-Borne Illnesses Alert dated June 11, 2020.
The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) is under a
mosquito-borne illness alert. Two additional human cases of West Nile virus infection of
local transmission have been confirmed in Miami-Dade residents. There has been a total
of four West Nile virus infections in 2020.
West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental
United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.
There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV infections in people. Most
people infected with West Nile virus do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected
develop a fever and other symptoms such as headache, pain, and fatigue. People with
mild illness typically recover within about a week with symptomatic treatment. Less than
one-percent of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. Symptoms
typically appear between two and 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. People
over the age of 60 and individuals with weakened immune systems are at an increased risk
for severe disease.
The attached notice and other documents, provide further information including details
related to the preventative Drain and Cover preventative measures as recommended.
Miami Dade County performed a preventative Truck Spray application using the non-toxic
and approved, VectoBac WG within the Village on June 5, 2020 with an additional one
scheduled for early June 19, 2020. Additional treatments will be scheduled as required.
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Also, Village Staff has completed the installation of the non-toxic, Mosquito Dunks,
bacterium tablets, within the Village Storm Water System as a preventative measure. The
active ingredient is deadly to mosquito larvae but harmless to other living things.
Additionally, Staff from the Village’s Parks and Public Spaces and Code Compliance
Departments continue to inspect the entire Village to ensure that there are no areas in the
Village which contain long-standing, (longer than 36 hours), ponding water.
In the event there is observed standing water in any of the public rights-of-way, the
appropriate measures to remove or disburse the water and utilizing environmentally -
friendly products to prevent the breeding of mosquitos in those areas will be completed.
Notification to our residents will be transmitted via the Village Website, WENS and E Mail
Blast systems.
For more information, visit DOH’s website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/%5C/diseases-
and-conditions/mosquito-borne-diseases/index.html or contact DOH-Miami-Dade
County.
If you have, any questions please contact Director of Parks and Open Spaces John
Oldenburg at joldenburg@balharbourfl.gov or 305.993.7368.
JO/JMG