If you’ve been following the local news over the past few weeks, you know county and state environmental authorities have been spraying to control the population of nuisance mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are known to carry and spread several diseases, but in northeastern Pennsylvania, the cause for concern is West Nile virus. High populations of insects capable of spreading the disease have been detected in Luzerne County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus is the most common cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., and there are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat the virus in humans.
Most people who contract West Nile virus don’t develop symptoms, but one in five people who are infected develop a fever with headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Most people recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.
About 1 in 150 people develop a serious illness that affects the central nervous system, such as encephalitis (brain inflammation) or meningitis (inflammation of membranes around the brain and spinal cord).
Fortunately, regardless of how effective spraying efforts end up being, there are several measures you can take to protect yourself from mosquitos.
Limit exposure
Mosquitos are most active between dusk and dawn when the air is calmest, so avoid outdoor activity in this window.
Opting for air conditioning instead of open windows to cool your home can keep your house clear, and making sure any window or door screens are free of tears will help if you have no air conditioning. The same goes for tents when camping. To protect your little ones while outside, use mosquito netting over strollers or bassinettes.
Use repellent
The most effective insect repellents contain DEET, icaridin or picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Repellants with any of these active ingredients will temporarily repel mosquitos and ticks – which is always a bonus.
If you intend to be outdoors for longer periods of time, repellents that include DEET are more likely to protect you for longer.
Repellents that contain DEET or icaridin should not be administered to the hands or faces of young children, and DEET should never be used on infants younger than 2 months old.
Use clothing to your advantage
You can administer to clothing insecticide, like permethrin, that should never be applied directly to the skin.
Even if you cannot treat your clothes, you can wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and close-toed shoes to protect your skin from bites. Light colors are less attractive to insects and can help as well, and a hat can protect the ears and neck.
Reduce population on your property
There are a few things you can do around your house to lower your mosquito population.
Eliminate any standing water, which is a breeding ground for mosquitos. Empty outdoor flowerpots or store them upside down so they can’t collect water. Other common yard fixtures like fire pits should be drained regularly.
Also, if you have a wading pool set up for your children or bird baths in your yard, you should change the water weekly, if not more often. And clearing your rain gutters can alleviate another source of standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
Hopefully, local mitigation efforts will keep the population low this fall, but utilizing these methods when you head outside can offer extra layers of protection for you and your family.