GREENFIELD – The Hancock County Health Department is urging residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites after two local control pools tested positive for West Nile this summer.
The virus can cause mild flu-like symptoms in some, but in rare cases can cause life-threatening illnesses such as meningitis and other neurological diseases.
Still, the chance of contracting the virus from a mosquito bite is slim, and roughly 80% of people who are infected will reportedly not show any symptoms.
“We live in a world where West Nile is out there, but at the end of the day it’s nothing to lose sleep over,” said Derek Adams, an environmental health specialists with the Hancock County Health Department.
Yet he said it is imperative that all county residents do what they can to minimize bug bites and the ability for mosquitoes to breed and flourish.
“You’re going to get bit. The big thing is taking all the precautions you can to prevent getting bit,” he said.
Those precautions include using a quality bug spray, wearing long sleeves and pants and avoiding being outside at dawn and dusk when possible. It’s also important to eliminate points of standing water that can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, said Adams.
“Make sure you empty or turn over the water in bird baths, and if you have flower pots that have rings on the bottom that hold water, make sure they get flushed out,” he said.
“Tires, buckets, anything that can contain water should be stored properly, thrown out or turned over so it doesn’t hold water. Cleaning out your gutters is another good thing to do.”
Adams said larger bodies of water like retention ponds are not prone to be insect breeding grounds, but weedy areas around the water’s edge can be. Keeping weeds cut back can help, he said.
While the summer months are synonymous with mosquito bites, only a small percentage of mosquitoes are typically found to be infected with West Nile.
Studies have shown between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 100,000 bites are found to carry the virus.
The risk of contracting West Nile is higher if you’re bitten multiple times, especially during the warmer months of spring, summer and early fall.
While some people attempt to thwart the pesky pests by treating their property with insect repellent, Adams said that works only to a certain extent, since mosquitoes are known to fly within a half mile range.
“If you have your property treated but your neighbors don’t, (mosquitoes) can be breeding and hanging out around your neighbor’s property and just fly back onto your property,” he said.
While spot treating your lawn can prove helpful for a few hours, Adams said personal precautions is the best way to minimize the chances of getting bit.
“Even if you just sprayed, there are still going to be some flying around somewhere,” he said.
PLAY IT SAFE
The Indiana Department of Health offers the following tips on protecting against mosquito bites:
—Know when to expect to get bit. The mosquitoes that transmit disease in Indiana usually bite during the hours from dusk to dawn.
—Wear EPA-registered insect repellents. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. Not all repellents are effective against both mosquitoes and ticks. The EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that is best for you. —Always follow product instructions:
—Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
—Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.
—Treat your clothes and outdoor gear with 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remains protective through several washings. Permethrin should never be applied directly to the skin.
—Reduce the amount of exposed skin. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, hats, socks and shoes that cover the entire foot will make it more difficult for mosquitoes to bite.
—Taking Steps to Control Mosquitoes Indoors and Outdoors
—If possible, use air conditioning rather than leaving your doors and windows open.
—Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
—Find and remove possible mosquito breeding sites around your home.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Removing sources of standing water can reduce the number of mosquitoes around your property, which will protect you as well as your neighbors.
The state health department recommends the following:
— Tip and toss: Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that could collect water outdoors, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots and trash containers.
—Tightly cover water storage containers (buckets, cisterns, rain barrels) so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
—For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
—If you have a septic tank, repair any cracks or gaps. Cover open vents or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
Source: www.in.gov/health
