Official urges residents to protect against West Nile virus * BY COURTNEY GAILLARD THE CHRONICLE ' State and local public health Ukpartments announced on Mon that three bipjs from Forsyth bounty have tested positive for Infest Nile vims. In all, 12 coun mes in North Carolina have eon jBmed the presence of the vims West Nile vims, originally from Europe, was first found in ;this country back in 1999 in New 'York City. West Nile vims was ?first detected in North Carolina !two years ago. I The vims is not known to Ipass dirtctly from birds to '{mmans but is transmitted from mosquitoes that bite infected birds and then bite humans. If a hitman is infected, the vims may ?ause flu-like symptoms such as 'HEadache, swollen glands, mus cle aches and a rash. West Nile vims causes mild disease in humans, and in some rare cases it can lead to encephalitis and death. Elderly people with low immune systems are apparently most at risk for developing the vims. "There is no treatment espe cially for (West Nile) virus infec tion. The great majority of peo ple who become infected never know it because they have no symptoms," said Tim Monroe, director of the Forsyth County Public Health Department in Winston-Salem, who also said the odds of someone developing life-threatening health complica tions are one in 150 people. While North Carolina has yet to come across a human case of West Nile virus, public health departments are still urging resi dents to take precautions against mosquito bites that could lead to an infection of the disease. Elim inating mosquito breeding traps such as bird baths, flowerpots, stopped-up gutters and rain bar rels can reduce homeowners' chances of attracting large mos quito populations. "Obviously people will be bitten in North Carolina, espe cially during summertime. Early symptoms are flu-like, and any time anyone has been exposed to a mosquito and develops symp toms they should be evaluated by a physician," said Monroe. i uc rnoio Health offidials are warning resident sto use products to pro tect against mosquito bites. who mentioned that the odds are still very low of an individual contracting the virus. According to Monroe, most ? people breed their own mosqui toes without even knowing it. Failing to turn over birdhaths. dog bowls or old tires in and around the home contribute to the creation of mosquito breed ing grounds. Refreshing stand ing water simply is not enough to combat mosquitoes. In a matter of a few days, Monroe said, peo ple will see a mosquito develop from an egg to a full adult. Rain is another element that will attract large numbers of mosquitoes. and Monroe believes the recent drought in the Piedmont Triad has "probably slowed the progress somewhat" of the virus popping up in the area. The best way to protect one self from being bitten by a mos quito. said Monroe, is to "limit the time spent outdoors," partic ularly around dawn or dusk. Applying an insect repellent containing DEET (with a con centration of 30 percent or less) to the skin is also a major mos quiii) deterrent when going out doors. DEET is also a good pro tection against other tick-home diseases. According to Monroe, other types of regular insect repellent "fall short in terms of effective ness." Extra precaution must be taken when applying insect repellent containing DEET with children between the ages 6 months and 12 years old, so par ents must be sure to read labels thoroughly. Wearing long-sleeve tops and pants is also a good way to minimize the risk of mosquito bites. Local health officials will decide to spray for mosquitoes if the area becomes densely popu |3..J .. a|so depending Surveillance and testing in the rest of the state through mosqui to and dead bird collection will continue by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Public Health Pest Management. Resilients are asked by pub lic Itfflth officials to report dead crows, blue jays, hawks or owls at (877) 790-17-17. Freshmen from page A! He was more concerned with what the university had to offer him academically, he said. "I'm hoping to grow as an individual here, academically as well as socially," said Joseph Martinez. Ismael and Latira Martinez said they too did take into con sideration the small number of minority students at Wake. A month after father and son first visited the campus. Ismael and Laura Martinez visited the school, but this time without their son. After speaking with a number of minority students and the assistant director of admissions, Marcus Ingram, Laura Martinez said that she and her. husband got "a really good feeling." "My husband and I walked aVvay feeling very good. That played an absolutely big part in our decision of where he wanted to go," said Laura Martinez. "Not only did we want him in a good atmos phere. but we wanted him to go to a school where his aca demic endeavors would be met, and I wanted him to be (socially) accepted." But some black Wake stu dents did give the school's racial makeup a second ; thought. Tiffany Settles, from ? Greenville. S.C., is also a freshman at the school. Set ! ties, who plans to major in ; business, decided on WFU because of the curriculum offered in the Calloway School of Business. When asked about any ! concerns about the minority ' student population at the school. Settles said, "At first 1 was iffy about going to a pre dominantly white school." But Settles said she was quickly put at ease by the campus ! community. Everyone, Settles ; said, from fellow students on ; campus to her dorm's resident advisers, has been more than willing to help her out. As far as feeling any pres sure. Settle said if she experi ences any. it will be due to the school's intense academic standards and not because she is a student of color. Wake Forest administrators are conscious of the small number of minority students at the school, but Ingram says WFU prefers to focus on cater ing to the diverse group of stu dents that are represented on campus as they recruit more like them. Part of Ingram's job in the Office of Admissions and also as coordinator of multicultural recruitment is to search out students of color like Martinez and Granby who meet the academic criteria of the university. "We are working to I, increase mblticulturalism and diversity on campus. It's really important just from a diversity perspective. But we also don't feel that the numbers are the only thing we need to work on because we also want to work (on) enhancing the environ ment that is already here. We work to increase under standing and accept ance and move to (a) place where we embrace all of our differ Granby e n c e s. Ingram said. According to Ingram, it is a seven-month process of seek ing out potential students - majority and minority - to consider WFU to continue their education. Ingram's staff, student ambassadors and WFU alumni spend time traveling to high schools, corresponding with potential students via a letter-writing campaign and phone-a-thons and organizing events geared toward multi cultural students. Once students near the entrance application deadline. Ingram and staff then start to encourage students to go through a merit-based scholar ship application process, one that is different from the gen eral application process, in order to offset their college expenses if accepted. "The university has a firm commitment to making sure there's a representation of stu dents in a variety of merit pro grams. There is a tremendous emphasis on diversity here, and we try to make sure that those who are qualified are channeled into the right direc tion to obtain scholarships," Ingram said. Clifton Granby's mother. Elizabeth Granby, attended the University of North Carolina and is confident that her son's exposure to her school, a pre dominantly white university, over the years prepared him for his college experience at Wake Forest. "Not that we have anything against historically black col leges, it's just that we always looked at the (school that could provide) the best educa tion." said Elizabeth Granby, who has worries like any other parent sending his or her first child off to college. The small class sizes at WFU appealed most to Clifton Granby along with the chance to receive a well-rounded lib eral arts education. "I just wanted to go to a prestigious university," said Clifton Granby, who is also considering a degree in pre med. Clifton Granby mentioned that after visiting the campus last year, that the Office of Multicultural Affairs was "very adamant" about his being involved in campus life. The Office of Multicultural Affairs also drove home to Granby that students of color, like himself, can impact the lives of their fellow Deacons. "I think I look forward to being involved in clubs and activities," Clifton said. "I expect (WFU) to be figorous, challenging, fun and a change of pace." Homes 1 year and older need to be checked for termites "A flea circus is a good act but it takes termites to bring a home down." Cafi Triad Pest Control 1535 S. Martin Luther King Drive Winston-Salem, NC Be Wise! Punch #24! 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