By day, Gerry Waite is an anthropology instructor at Ball State. By night, he takes to the streets to warn students about West Nile virus.
Waite lives at the corner of Reserve and Carson streets, close to the Delaware County Fairgrounds where West Nile virus was identified in mosquitoes last weekend. The past few nights, he said he has left his home to tell students who are outside about the virus.
"We're really concerned because of student behavior," Waite said.
Mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are usually out from dusk until dawn. Waite said he is concerned for students who might also be out during that time.
"This is the first week - students are partying hard," he said. "They're out in the neighborhoods all hours of the night and most of the time without adequate clothing."
Waite said he has advised students to wear long-sleeved clothing and bug repellent and to burn citronella candles to keep from getting bit by mosquitoes that could possibly carry the virus.
"Even if it doesn't smell like perfume - wear it," Waite said about the bug spray.
According to the state health department, mosquitoes are the primary carrier of West Nile virus, which was first identified in Indiana in the summer of 2001.
Since that time, 32 counties in the state have had positive identifications of the virus and three probable human cases have recently been reported: two in Allen County and one in Wabash County. The virus has caused 11 deaths in the United States this year alone.
Bob Pinger, chairman of the Ball State physiology and health sciences department, said symptoms of the virus include rashes, body aches, headaches, fevers, stiff necks, disorienatation and, in more serious cases, comas.
West Nile virus can cause encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, and meningitis and inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord, according to the state health department.
Normally, the virus lives in wild birds. Mosquitoes transmit it from birds to humans by biting the bird and then a person.
While cases of death from the virus have been reported, a new study shows only about one in five people infected with it develop a severe, life-threatening disease.
"I took that (study) with a grain of salt," Pinger said. "Every disease has a genetic variable.
Pinger said the West Nile virus is similar to other viruses in the United States.
"I think we have become complacent about mosquito control," he said.
Currently efforts are being made to control the mosquito population. The Delaware County Health Department has been spraying insecticide since the discovery of the virus near the fairgrounds.
Bob Jones, administrator of the health department, said the spray is effective. It only kills mosquitoes and does not harm humans or animals.
The county bought a sprayer, which was mounted to a county truck, to spray the insecticide bought in early May. Jones said together the items cost between $10,000 and $12,000 and were funded from public tax dollars and state money.
"It was kind of a match between local and state funds," Jones said.
He said the county still has between $3,000 and $4,000 left if it needs to purchase more chemical spray.
"We're in the position where we can step it up if we need it," he said.
As summer turns into fall, Jones said more spray will be needed to combat the increasing number of mosquitoes that come with the season.
"The problem is here now and it's going to stay here," Jones said.
As long as the West Nile virus is here, Waite said he will continue to go out to inform students about its potential threats and how they can avoid getting it.
"The one thing we do know is that we have positive mosquitoes in what are essentially student neighborhoods," he said. "For that reason, I think we need to make people aware of it and take precautions."
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