By David Robinson

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK -- Gov. Mike Huckabee announced Wednesday that he'll use $1 million in state funds to kill mosquitoes as the West Nile virus expands into Arkansas.

He also said citizens should be in a "state of alert, but not alarm," because chances of becoming infected are so small and because the virus would cause symptoms in fewer than 1 percent of healthy people.

So far, Arkansas has no confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the state Health Department's positive blood test of a Union County man.

Dr. Fay Boozman, Health Department director, said word should come by next week.

The Health Department also has begun testing blood samples from nine other people that doctors around the state believe to be infected.

Dozens of birds and two horses have been the only confirmed victims of the virus in Arkansas.

Five people have died in Louisiana this year from the virus. West Nile has spread across the country since first being detected in New York in 1999. "This is no time for people to be overly alarmed that they're going to get a mosquito bite and drop dead from it," Huckabee said at a state Capitol news conference. "The average healthy Arkansan should not lock the doors, (and) think he or she has to sit inside until November."

For example, he said, overuse of chemicals could kill wildlife that control mosquito population naturally.

People should take normal precautions to prevent mosquito bites and drain pools of water where mosquitoes breed.

The state will consult with the CDC in determining how best to use the $1 million in emergency funds from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

State officials at Wednesday's news conference said they do not yet know which portions of the state will be targeted for mosquito abatement, or even whether urban or rural areas will get priority.

Huckabee acknowledged that the $1 million won't eliminate mosquitoes, and at best will only control a rapid mosquito population growth.

The abatement program will be overseen by the Department of Emergency Management with technical assistance by the Health Department.

A more complete mosquito eradication program would cost $3 million-$5 million, and the state is applying for federal assistance, Huckabee said.

The Health Department has asked Arkansans to be careful when handling dead birds that could potentially carry the virus. Officials suggest using a bag or gloves to collect the bird, sealing the bag and, if possible, keeping it iced down until it can be delivered to health officials.

Mosquitoes transmit the virus from infected birds to humans. Most people bitten by an infected mosquito will show no symptoms, but some suffer fever, muscle and joint aches and in severe cases, can develop potentially fatal encephalitis. The elderly, very young and those with poor immune systems are at greatest risk of death from infection.

The Health Department has established a West Nile virus hotline to respond to the public's questions: 501-280-4817. After-hours calls can be made to 800-554-2857. The CDC is providing a West Nile virus hotline: 1-888-246-2675. For Spanish, call 1-888-246-2857

The department also has established a Web site with information about the virus: www.healthyarkansas.com/westnilevirus.htm.