It’s Mosquito Season
Mosquitoes “bite” because they use animal blood for food to grow or make eggs when they reproduce. Ordinarily, mosquito bites are just a nuisance, but a mosquito bite can spread germs that cause disease. For example, certain mosquitoes can spread eastern equine
encephalitis virus or West Nile virus. Only a small number of insects may be carrying disease-causing germs, so being bitten does not mean a person will become sick.
During this time of year through the first major frost mosquitoes are a public health concern, so it’s important to know how to reduce your exposure to them and how to recognize the symptoms of the diseases they spread in case you are “bitten”.
To reduce mosquito populations around your home and neighborhood, get rid of any standing water that is available for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes will begin to breed in any puddle or standing water that lasts for more than four days. Here are some simple steps you can take:
• Dispose of or regularly empty any metal cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, and other water holding containers (including trash cans) on your property.
• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have collected on your property. Stagnant water in tires is a common place for mosquitoes to breed.
• Clean clogged roof gutters; remove leaves and debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater.
• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
• Do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths; aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish.
• Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers.
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.
The best way to protect yourself is to keep mosquitoes from biting you. Follow these steps every summer to reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, particularly if you live near natural wetlands.
• If you must be outdoors at dusk or dawn, when mosquitoes that carry these viruses are most active, wear a longsleeved shirt and long pants. Take special care to cover up the arms and legs of children playing outdoors.
• Repair any holes in your screens and make sure they are tightly attached to all your doors and windows.
• Use repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and choose a product that will provide sufficient protection for the amount of time spent outdoors. Product labels often indicate the length of time that someone can expect protection from a product. DEET is considered safe when used according to the manufacturer’s directions. Products containing DEET should not be used on children less than 2 months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or lower for older children and adults. Mosquito netting may be used to cover infant carriers or to protect other areas for children less than 2 months of age.
? Do not use DEET on the hands of young children and avoid applying repellent to areas around the eyes and mouth.
? Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Limited information is available regarding the health effects and effectiveness of “natural” repellents. However, in some recent studies, oil of lemon eucalyptus provided as much protection as low concentrations of DEET when tested against mosquitoes found in the United States.
As of August 12th there have been no cases of West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus identified in humans in Massachusetts in 2005. In 2004, four cases of EEE Virus in humans, including two fatalities,~were identified in Massachusetts. Cases were identified in~Plymouth and Norfolk Counties. There were no confirmed human cases of WNV in Massachusetts in 2004.Most WNV infections do not cause any symptoms.
Mild WNV infections can cause fever, headache and body aches, often with a skin rash and swollen lymph glands. In a small percentage of people infected by the virus, the disease can be serious, even fatal. More severe infections can cause headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, paralysis and, sometimes, death. Persons older than 50 years of age have a higher risk of developing severe illness.
The first symptoms of EEE are high fever (103º to106ºF), stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy. These symptoms show up three to ten days after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito. Inflammation and swelling of the brain, called encephalitis, is the most dangerous symptom. The disease gets worse quickly and some patients may go into a coma within a week.
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. People with mild WNV infections usually recover on their own. Doctors can provide supportive therapy for people who have more serious complications. There is no cure for EEE, and three of every ten people who get the disease die from it. All doctors can do is lower the fever and ease the pressure on the brain. Some people who survive this disease will be permanently disabled. Few people recover completely. It is important to note the virus that causes EEE is spread only by mosquitoes. People and horses with EEE do not spread the disease.
The Northeast Mosquito Control District routinely monitors and tests mosquitoes found in two traps located on Humphrey Street and the Foster Pond area.
This information and more about protection against mosquitoes can be found on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website www.mass.gov/dph.
Jeff Vaughan
Director of Public Health
Town of Swampscott
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