[9/05/01]In an effort to head off a possible outbreak of encephalitis, Vicksburg officials will double efforts against mosquitoes.

The city’s action to buy a second sprayer to fight the insects came a day before state health officials said a sixth case of the LaCrosse strain of encephalitis, this one in nearby Claiborne County, has been confirmed.

The latest victim is a 10-month-old child in rural Claiborne County.

“Because of concerns about encephalitis in Monroe and Jackson we want to step up mosquito control,” Mayor Laurence Leyens said Tuesday as the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to declare an emergency and spend $9,000 to purchase a second “fogging” machine. The city has one of the devices used to spread pesticides, but it takes two weeks to spray the entire city.

Encephalitis is a virus that usually affects only birds, but can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes after they have bitten infected birds. An outbreak of the St. Louis strain in Louisiana has killed two of the 45 people in Ouachita Parish diagnosed with the disease.

The West Nile strain, which has been diagnosed in one horse in Louisiana, has killed 10 people, mostly in the Northeast, since it came to the United States in 1999. A woman in Atlanta died of the West Nile strain last month.

Dr. Mary Currier, epidemiologist with the Mississippi Department of Health, said the six cases of the LaCrosse strain have been reported in Franklin, George, Neshoba, Noxubee and Marion counties, in addition to the one in Claiborne.

No cases have been reported in Vicksburg or Warren County, Currier said.

“We should all be aware of the health complications of contracting any type of encephalitis,” Currier said. “With a cure unavailable for LaCrosse, the best measure to practice is prevention.”

Most cases of the LaCrosse strain of the virus occur in children younger than 16. Symptoms are flu-like and include fever, nausea and drowsiness. In young children, infection can lead to seizures, coma and paralysis.

In other matters the board:

Approved a request by Travelers Rest Baptist Church to block portions of Pearl, Speed, Washington and Bowmar streets Sunday for a march. Church members will walk from their building on Pearl Street to their new home on Bowmar Avenue, the former Bowmar Avenue Baptist Church.

Set a public hearing at 10 a.m., Sept. 17, at City Hall Annex for structures to the demolished at 2926 Arcadia St., 839 Buck St. and 1511 Grove St.

Authorized the housing inspector to cut and clean five lots and set special assessments against property that has already been cleaned.

Approved $150 to fund two five-man teams from the Vicksburg Fire Department to participate in the Over the River Run Saturday.

Approved $295 for accommodations and up to $200 for meals to bring five fire department chiefs to Vicksburg to administer promotional exams to firefighters.

Approved $1,800 for advertising by Main Street for the 7th Annual Downtown Fall Festival on Oct. 6.

Approved the minutes from meetings on Aug. 6 and Aug. 10.

Approved the claims docket.

The city board will meet again at 10 a.m. Monday at City Hall Annex.