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Mosquito Avoidance and West Nile Virus Information

  • Published
  • By 375th Medical Group
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The time has come again when the mosquitoes are out. The following information is provided to ensure all civilians and personnel on Scott are updated on testing, spraying procedures, West Nile Virus and prevention.

Public Health Entomology will trap for mosquitoes twice a week at pre-designated areas, weather permitting. Mosquito surveillance aids in disease prevention by allowing us to track which diseases are present in our local mosquito population.

Depending on the number of mosquitoes caught, Civil Engineering Pest Management will spray the needed designated areas between 5 and 6 a.m. hours the day following trapping.

Mosquitoes can transmit many serious diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, Filariasis and Encephalitis. Fortunately, none of these diseases have shown up at Scott.

One mosquito-borne disease, West Nile Virus, has been an ongoing problem in the U.S, including Illinois and our local areas. The WNV was first detected in the Western Hemisphere when an outbreak occurred in New York in 1999. Since then, WNV has progressively spread West.

Illinois 2007 statistics identified 101 cases and four fatalities from WNV. Records from 2007 show St. Clair County reported three human cases, one animal case and eight positive mosquito batches.

WNV causes encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. People and animals contract the disease from the bite of an infected mosquito. Once bitten, it may take three to 14 days before flu-like symptoms appear.

According to the Center for Disease Control approximately 80 percent of all people infected will be unaffected by WNV, whereas 20 percent will display symptoms.

While most experience mild illness, more severe illness occurs in one out of 150 infected people, usually children, persons greater than 50 years of age and the immune-compromised. Symptoms of severe illness include: severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and, rarely, death.

There is currently no specific therapy to treat WNV and no vaccine available to prevent the disease. If a person thinks he or she may have WNV, they should seek medical care immediately.

Time of WNV transmission is greatest during the summer or mosquito breeding season, May through October, with most human cases occurring August through September.

Only mosquitoes can transmit the disease: humans, birds, dogs, cats, horses and other animals can become infected with WNV, but cannot spread the disease to each other or to us.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes during outdoor activities is by applying insect repellant. DEET is an ingredient in most mosquito repellents sold over the counter at local stores.

Repellents containing about 25-30 percent DEET work best for adults; lower concentrations are recommended for use on children. Higher concentrations have not proven more effective than 25-30 percent concentrations.

Use the DEET spray sparingly on all exposed skin or clothing as the directions indicate but be careful to avoid eyes and mouth.

Keep in mind these helpful hints to avoid mosquito bites: minimize your outside activities during dawn, dusk, and early evening; wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and apply insect repellant to exposed skin when outdoors; read labels of any repellants before applying them; install or repair window and door screens to reduce mosquitoes indoors; and try to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in the environment.

Mosquitoes need water to reproduce. Hence, by keeping your yard and environment clean, you can help decrease habitats for mosquito reproduction.

Here are some tips to reduce mosquitoes in your surroundings: clean rain gutters and downspouts; remove empty water in old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles or other places where mosquitoes might breed; empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store indoors when not in use; store boats covered or upside down; discharge aeration units often to prevent stagnant water; change the water in bird baths and plant pots or drip trays at least once a week; empty your pets water bowl daily; and keep weeds and grass cut short.

Due to the contract with Pinnacle and recent housing changes, Public Health will no longer be doing mosquito surveillance in off base housing areas. According to Pinnacle management, they will have the housing areas sprayed by contract pest control as needed.

For more information regarding these changes, contact the Scott Landing Housing Office at 746-4911. For questions or additional information, contact the Scott Public Health Office at 256-4986.