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Health
officials advise mosquito control and personal protection
[MAY
19, 2003]
As you know, mosquito
season is upon us again. Last year, West Nile virus, which can be
transmitted by mosquitoes, was prevalent in Illinois. Although we
don't know what 2003 will bring, it is always best to be prepared.
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First of all, no amount of larvaciding
or adult mosquito fogging will kill all mosquito larva or adult
mosquitoes. It can have a tremendous impact, but it is only one way
to help eliminate the mosquito population. Each person must do his
or her part. Since mosquitoes need only a small amount of water for
breeding, look to your own back yard.
*Remove or empty water in old tires,
tin cans, buckets, drums, flower pots or bird baths
*Empty plastic wading pools at least
once a week and store indoors when not in use. Also, swimming pools
that are not used should be covered or drained during the mosquito
season.
*Change the water in bird baths and
plant pots at least once a week.
*Level the ground around your house so
water can drain away and not collect in low-lying areas.
*If you have an ornamental water
garden, stock it with mosquito-eating fish such as minnows,
"mosquito fish" or goldfish. They eat mosquito larva.
*Keep weeds and tall grass cut short;
adult mosquitoes look for these shady places to rest during the hot
daylight hours.
*Small impoundments of water may be
treated with "Bti," a bacterial insecticide. Many hardware stores
carry doughnut-shaped Bti briquets (Mosquito Dunks) for this
purpose.
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Since we will not eradicate the
mosquito, we must also be responsible about personal protection. You
can protect yourself by:
*Avoiding places and times when
mosquitoes bite. This is usually just before and after sunset and
just before dawn. Each species has its own peak period of biting.
*Be sure doors and screens are
tight-fitting and in good repair.
*Check to see that your mosquito
repellent contains DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
Generally, repellents with a
concentration of 25 percent to 35 percent DEET work best on adults;
use lower concentrations of 10 percent or less for children between
the ages of 2 and 12. Do not use on infants.
For more information, go to
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm and
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/
index.htm.
You may also
contact the Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.
[Logan
County Health Department news
release]
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