Mosquitoes Part I - The Dangers

At one time or another in our lives we have all been harassed by a mosquito while trying to enjoy the great outdoors. There really is nothing more annoying than the buzz of the mosquito in your ear or worse feeling it land and try to bite you. Mosquito bites can be more than just itchy and annoying. They can cause you to get sick. Mosquitoes can carry and transmit many diseases that could harm its victim. Let's examine the dangers in our region that these little pests pose. . . .

• West Nile Disease - According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Almost 40,000 people in the U.S. have been reported with West Nile virus disease since 1999, and of those over 17,000 have been seriously ill and more than 1600 have died. Many more cases of illness are not reported to CDC. The symptoms of West Nile are similar to the flu such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.Most people (70-80%) who become infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.Less than 1% of people who are infected will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues). The symptoms of neurologic illness can include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, or paralysis. See your healthcare professional if you think you have the symptoms of West Nile infection.

• Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is spread to horses and humans by infected mosquitoes. It is among the most serious of a group of mosquito-borne arboviruses that can affect the central nervous system and cause severe complications and even death. EEE is found in freshwater hardwood swampland in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states in the eastern part of North America, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Symptoms may range from none at all to a mild flu-like illness with fever, headache, and sore throat. More serious infections of the central nervous system lead to a sudden fever and severe headache followed quickly by seizures and coma. About half of these patients die from the disease.

• Other diseases of mosquitoes include Malaria, Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, and Chikungunya common in other regions of the world.

To avoid these sometimes deadly diseases take personal precautions such as:

• Avoid outdoor activity when mosquitoes are prevalent. Dusk and dawn is when most mosquitoes are more active.
• Wear long, loose-fitting clothes if mosquitoes are around, preferably in light colors.
• Use effective mosquito repellents on exposed skin and clothing.
• Hire a professional pest control company like Pest-End or Pro-Tech Lawn Care