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Dr. Emilio DeBess, OHA’s public health veterinarian, and Dr. Paul Cieslak, OHA senior health advisor and medical director, Communicable Diseases and Immunizations program, answered today’s questions.
Q: Since we will probably have more mosquitoes this year, can OHA keep us updated on which species are prevalent? There's a difference between preventing the nuisance of benign bites and avoiding a mosquito-borne illness such as West Nile (which apparently also involves monitoring bird populations.) – Connie, Portland
A: “Indeed, Connie, the last two years have seen record high mosquito activity in Multnomah County, but also increased activity in other parts of the state. Just this week, in fact, we have confirmed 2023’s first detections of West Nile Virus in mosquitoes in Oregon—one in Malheur County and one in Jackson County. This was completely expected and happens every year. (Researchers collect 40-50 mosquitoes into a sample vile, called a ‘pool,’ and when one pool tests positive it counts as one detection.) In 2022, 52 of the 58 detected cases of West Nile in Oregon were in mosquitoes, with three cases in humans and three in horses. You can watch our West Nile webpage, which breaks down detected cases by year, county and carrier (mosquito, horse, bird or human) and gets updated immediately with any new West Nile detection.
“As for your question about mosquito species, there are three that are more likely to carry West Nile than others—Culex tarsalis, Culex pipiens and Aedes vexans—and OHA’s Annual West Nile Summary Reports go into detail on the different mosquito species collected and tested in Oregon. There is a lag time, however, and the most recent published report is for 2018, with the 2019 report due for publication in the coming weeks. Mosquitoes can carry and spread other diseases to humans as well, but West Nile is the most common in the United States. Learn more about West Nile Virus here.
“There are also about a dozen vector control districts (VCDs) across Oregon, some with websites. VCDs work to control mosquito populations, and some help in the control of rats. They are on the front lines of collecting mosquitoes for analysis. You are welcome to contact the Multnomah County Vector Control office (503-988-3464) and inquire about their work.”
Q: My wife and I plan to travel outside the U.S. this fall. My concern is that I will not have access to Paxlovid if one of us contracts COVID-19. We are in our 70s, and I have additional concerns with COPD and obesity. Can our physician prescribe the medication for us without a positive COVID-19 test? – John, West Linn
A: “Yes, Paxlovid was fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) May 25, 2023, which means your physician can prescribe it as they think appropriate, with our without a positive COVID-19 test. Prior to May 25, the FDA’s emergency use authorization of Paxlovid placed greater restrictions on its use, but full approval means, among other things, you don’t have to have symptoms or concerns over COVID-19 exposure to qualify for a Paxlovid prescription. Also, the telehealth service Color Health has been a valuable tool for people with or without insurance to quickly get prescriptions for Paxlovid by connecting with a physician online or over the phone. OHA’s partnership with Color Health is set to expire at the end of August, however, and we don’t yet know if it will be extended. That being said, we recommend you ask your doctor for a Paxlovid prescription if you wish to take the medication with you on your international trip later this year. And if you do come down with COVID-19, be sure to take it as prescribed, for the complete five-day regimen.”
If you have questions about health topics in Oregon, submit your question here. While we are unable to answer every question, we try to address questions that may be of interest to a broader audience. Please understand we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.
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