West Nile Virus 
In areas where there has been much rain, ideal conditions for increased mosquito populations have accelerated the occurrence of West Nile virus.
Initially discovered in 1937 in the West Nile province of Uganda, Africa, WNV is known to affect humans, birds and other animals in Africa, Europe, Middle East and Israel. The first outbreak was documented in New York City in the summer of 1999 and is expected to spread throughout North America.WNV is transmitted by the Culex mosquitoes that have been infected after biting an infected wild bird (American crow, Blue jay) or animal (horses). Dead birds in the area serve as a warning that the virus is active and should be reported to the local health department. Once the virus is in the mosquito it undergoes a reproductive cycle multiplying in many tissues and accumulating in the salivary glands. When the mosquito bites, it salivates and transmits the virus. The mosquito can transmit the virus 10 to 14 days after feeding on an infected bird.
Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in stagnant water such as inside of tires, cans, old trees and anything that has been flooded by water and will not be disturbed. After a rainy period, one should pour out; tip over anything that may have standing water in it. The larvae take 48 hours to hatch and the pupae live in water until it reaches the adult stage. It is the female mosquito that bites as she needs a blood meal before she can lay her eggs. She will continue to bite for a period of several weeks of her adult life.
Precautions
Eliminate any standing water opportunities such as gutters, birdbaths, wheelbarrows.
Use larvicides to control immature mosquitoes if standing water cannot be eliminated.
Make sure your screen doors and windows do not have any holes in them.
Avoid going outside at dawn and dusk, as this is the time when they are the most active.
Wear protective clothing when going outdoors, long- sleeved shirt and long pants.
Spray yourself with an insect repellent on thin clothing and sparingly on your skin. Follow product labels for safe application. There are numerous products used as a repellent, some can be effective others are not. DEET is the active and most effective ingredient in mosquito repellents.
If you are one of the unfortunate to be infected, you may not even know it for most humans do not have any symptoms. Some develop fever, headaches, body ache, swollen lymph glands and body rash. Only 1 percent will develop symptoms of encephalitis; severe headache, high fever and a stiff neck, disorientation, tremor, convulsions, paralysis and coma. If you experience any of these symptoms contact your physician immediately.
Source of this information is from the USDA: For more updated info in your area go to http://www.ncpmc.org/NewsAlerts/westnilevirus
Strategies That Work
Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts and different types of mosquitoes react to different stimuli. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk, but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day.
You can avoid being bitten by making sure you aren't attracting mosquitoes, using attractants to lure mosquitoes elsewhere, using a repellent, and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent.
Mosquito Attractants
Use this list of items and activities that attract mosquitoes as a list of things to avoid or that can be used as bait to lure mosquitoes away from you.
- Dark Clothing
Many mosquitoes use vision to locate hosts from a distance. Dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants.
- Carbon Dioxide
You give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.
- Lactic Acid
You release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods (e.g., salty foods, high-potassium foods).
- Floral or Fruity Fragrances
In addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
- Skin Temperature
The exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremities.
- Moisture
Mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around your body. Even small amounts of water (e.g., moist plants or mud puddles) will draw mosquitoes. Standing water also allows mosquitoes to reproduce.
Natural Repellents
These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils.
- Citronella Oil
- Castor Oil
- Rosemary Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Cedar Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Clove Oil
- Geranium Oil
- Possibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Cinnamon, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic
Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium.
Things that Lower Repellent Effectiveness
- Many Sunscreens
- Dilution from Rain, Perspiration, or Swimming
- Absorption into the Skin
- Evaporation from Wind or High Temperatures
Keep in mind that 'natural' does not automatically imply 'safe'. Many people are sensitive to plant oils. Some natural insect repellents are actually toxic. Therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals, please remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using these products.
West Nile Virus
In areas where there has been much rain, ideal conditions for increased mosquito populations have accelerated the occurrence of West Nile virus.
Initially discovered in 1937 in the West Nile province of Uganda, Africa, WNV is known to affect humans, birds and other animals in Africa, Europe, Middle East and Israel. The first outbreak was documented in New York City in the summer of 1999 and is expected to spread throughout North America.WNV is transmitted by the Culex mosquitoes that have been infected after biting an infected wild bird (American crow, Blue jay) or animal (horses). Dead birds in the area serve as a warning that the virus is active and should be reported to the local health department. Once the virus is in the mosquito it undergoes a reproductive cycle multiplying in many tissues and accumulating in the salivary glands. When the mosquito bites, it salivates and transmits the virus. The mosquito can transmit the virus 10 to 14 days after feeding on an infected bird.
Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in stagnant water such as inside of tires, cans, old trees and anything that has been flooded by water and will not be disturbed. After a rainy period, one should pour out; tip over anything that may have standing water in it. The larvae take 48 hours to hatch and the pupae live in water until it reaches the adult stage. It is the female mosquito that bites as she needs a blood meal before she can lay her eggs. She will continue to bite for a period of several weeks of her adult life.
Precautions
Eliminate any standing water opportunities such as gutters, birdbaths, wheelbarrows.
Use larvicides to control immature mosquitoes if standing water cannot be eliminated.
Make sure your screen doors and windows do not have any holes in them.
Avoid going outside at dawn and dusk, as this is the time when they are the most active.
Wear protective clothing when going outdoors, long- sleeved shirt and long pants.
Spray yourself with an insect repellent on thin clothing and sparingly on your skin. Follow product labels for safe application. There are numerous products used as a repellent, some can be effective others are not. DEET is the active and most effective ingredient in mosquito repellents.
If you are one of the unfortunate to be infected, you may not even know it for most humans do not have any symptoms. Some develop fever, headaches, body ache, swollen lymph glands and body rash. Only 1 percent will develop symptoms of encephalitis; severe headache, high fever and a stiff neck, disorientation, tremor, convulsions, paralysis and coma. If you experience any of these symptoms contact your physician immediately.
Source of this information is from the USDA: For more updated info in your area go to http://www.ncpmc.org/NewsAlerts/westnilevirus
Strategies That Work
Mosquitoes have complex methods of detecting hosts and different types of mosquitoes react to different stimuli. Most mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk, but there are also mosquitoes that seek hosts during the day.
You can avoid being bitten by making sure you aren't attracting mosquitoes, using attractants to lure mosquitoes elsewhere, using a repellent, and avoiding actions that diminish the effectiveness of the repellent.
Mosquito Attractants
Use this list of items and activities that attract mosquitoes as a list of things to avoid or that can be used as bait to lure mosquitoes away from you.
- Dark Clothing
Many mosquitoes use vision to locate hosts from a distance. Dark clothes and foliage are initial attractants.
- Carbon Dioxide
You give off more carbon dioxide when you are hot or have been exercising. A burning candle or other fire is another source of carbon dioxide.
- Lactic Acid
You release more lactic acid when you have been exercising or after eating certain foods (e.g., salty foods, high-potassium foods).
- Floral or Fruity Fragrances
In addition to perfumes, hair products, and scented sunscreens, watch for the subtle floral fragrance from fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
- Skin Temperature
The exact temperature depends on the type of mosquito. Many mosquitoes are attracted to the slightly cooler temperatures of the extremities.
- Moisture
Mosquitoes are attracted by perspiration because of the chemicals it contains and also because it increases the humidity around your body. Even small amounts of water (e.g., moist plants or mud puddles) will draw mosquitoes. Standing water also allows mosquitoes to reproduce.
Natural Repellents
These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils.
- Citronella Oil
- Castor Oil
- Rosemary Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Cedar Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Clove Oil
- Geranium Oil
- Possibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Cinnamon, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic
Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium.
Things that Lower Repellent Effectiveness
- Many Sunscreens
- Dilution from Rain, Perspiration, or Swimming
- Absorption into the Skin
- Evaporation from Wind or High Temperatures
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