Take Precautions If Mosquitoes Bug You

It was soon after my husband and I married. We were young and excited to go to a concert for a popular group we liked. Only the band didn't arrive and the crowd got restless, so did a fly. In that huge auditorium that fly continued to dive bomb until it got me. I am a magnet for flies...and mosquitoes. That sort of magnetism makes swimming and picnics and summer outdoor activities irritating to say the least. Still, irritation was all it was until the West Nile virus made the scene a few years ago.

Today I am more careful to cover up when I'm outside, especially during those times of day when mosquitoes are most prevalent. I also worry about my young grandchildren who love being outdoors, especially in the warm, hot days of summer. Heat and moisture-like sweat---bring on mosquitoes. And the young, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable.

First identified in Uganda in 1937, the West Nile virus wasn't known in the United States before an outbreak in New York in 1999. While once common in West Asia, Africa, and the Middle East with outbreaks in Egypt and Israel as well as in Australia, the West Nile virus is now found in every state in the continental United States. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since 1999, some 15,000 have tested positive for the West Nile virus and some 500 have died. Many affected have mild to moderate cases and recover.

This may not seem like that many people since the West Nile virus hit the United States in 1999, but it is still a significant number and the danger has not abated. We remain at risk during mosquito season.

How did it get to America? West Nile is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes are infected by feeding on infected birds. The mosquito then bites a tasty human and passes on the virus.

Many infected with the West Nile virus have few symptoms. Others have flu-like symptoms such as head aches or body aches. There is also the possibility of swollen lymph glands or a rash.

According to the Nebraska Health and Human Services web site, "West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). It is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito."

NHHS adds, "You cannot get West Nile virus from a person who has the disease. West Nile virus is not spread by person-to-person contact such as touching, kissing, or caring for someone who is infected."

While it is always good to do everything possible to minimize insects bites, the West Nile virus and it's lethal potential provides motivation to be especially vigilant. There are things we can do to minimize the danger of contracting the West Nile virus.

Try to eliminate any standing water...even if that water is in a small discarded glass or flower pot. Mosquitoes need only the tiniest bit of water to successfully breed.
Double check your window and door screens to make sure they fit tight and have no holes. Repair when needed.
While we tend to like to go as bare as possible in hot weather, it is safer to cover up with hats, long sleeves and pants. Don't forget socks.
Take the greatest precautions around dawn and dusk as these are prime mosquito times.
Add repellents containing DEET to your list of precautions-and use them liberally and as directed. Of course, be careful of using DEET containing products around children and those who are expecting. Be sure to wash off the repellent on returning indoors.
If you prefer not to use products containing DEET, you can use alternatives such as oil of lemon eucalyptus or picaridin, which has been used in Europe and Australia for years with few problems.

With a little foresight and common sense you can protect yourself and your family from the West Nile virus. The potential problems are worth the extra precautions.