Proper precautions can help people avoid contracting serious illness from mosquitoes
By AMBER THOMPSON
Staff Writer
Why do mosquitoes buzz in people’s ears?
While a children’s book has an interesting theory, the faint buzzing sound usually precludes a batch of itchy red spots covering exposed skin during Minnesota summers. Mosquito bites, while a nuisance, in the past were not considered dangerous.
In recent years, though, it’s been noted that mosquitoes have the potential to spread a number of diseases including West Nile Virus through their infamous bites.
The Minnesota Department of Health hasn’t reported any deaths in 2008 from West Nile Virus, Meeker County Public Health Educator Lisa Horn said.
“There have been human illnesses in counties as close as Stearns and Sherburne.
That does not mean the residents of Meeker County should ignore the seriousness of these diseases,” she added.
MDH does not report any human illnesses for McLeod county, either.
West Nile Virus can cause flu-like symptoms in many patients, or no symptom. However, severe cases do occasionally present.
“A small percentage of people — especially children — may develop encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Most of the severe cases start with headache, fever, nausea and lethargy. The illness may rapidly progress into disorientation, seizures and coma,” Horn said.
Wearing light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants can help deter mosquitoes, and removing standing water from the yard can keep mosquitoes from breeding nearby, Horn added.
Using bug repellants containing DEET can also be helpful in avoiding mosquitoes, but parents need to check the labels before buying. According to Horn, children should only be exposed to products with less than 10 percent DEET, while adults can get by with products containing less than 30 percent DEET.
To help combat nuisance and health risks, both Hutchinson and Litchfield spray the cities for mosquitoes.
According to Hutchinson Public Works Manger John Olson, the city places traps on both sides of town to gauge the mosquito population. Clarke Mosquito Control from Clearwater comes to Hutchinson for summer mosquito sprays.
“This year we started June 15, and we have six weekly adult spray programs in place, so that puts us toward the end of July, and then we’ll have up to four additional sprays that we can do anywhere between then and freeze-out, based on how many mosquitos we see,” Olson said.
Residents who don’t want insecticides sprayed on their property can opt-out, and the chemicals will not be spread on their property.
“We have some people who are into organic gardening in town, really there’s a bunch of reasons, but it’s been fairly successful. Fifteen to 20 properties do (opt out) in any given year,” Olson said.
According to City Administrator Bruce Miller, Litchfield sprays every week, and for special events such as Pie in the Park and Watercade.
But spraying is only one facet of mosquito control. Killing the adults who lay eggs is important, but Hutchinson also uses a larvicide to prevent eggs from developing into full-grown mosquitoes. The treatment, a naturally occuring bacterium that affects insects but not mammals is placed in stagnant water sources like wetlands and storm water ponds. Olson said the treatment is good for 150 days, which covers the summer season.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the type of larvicide used in Hutchinson water sources does not pose a risk to wildlife, non-target species or the environment when used correctly.
The two-pronged approach of mosquito control has been successful in Hutchinson, Olson said.
“I’ve gotten comments from people from all sides of town, from folks that are operating day cares to just people out trying to enjoy their evening walk. I think we’ve noticed in the evenings quite a bit more foot traffic down by the river,” Olson said.
How to prevent mosquito-transmitted diseases
During the summer months when mosquitoes are more prevalent and people spend more time outside, Meeker County Public Health Educator Lisa Horn suggests the following measures to prevent mosquito bites.
<< Using personal protection measures such as use of mosquito repellents, avoiding outdoor exposures at dusk and dawn and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants can reduce your risk.
<< Remove water-holding containers from your property. It is easier to do this in the spring before growing vegetation obscures the containers. Bird baths should have their water changed every week to prevent mosquito breeding, and gutters should be checked to make sure they are not plugged.
<< Water-holding tree holes should be filled with dirt, sand, or a pliable insulation cement to prevent further mosquito breeding.
<< If children play in or near wooded areas during the day, they should wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
More than you needed to know about mosquitoes
<< There are about 2,700 species of mosquito. There are 176 species in the United States.
<< The average mosquito weighs about 2.5 milligrams.
<< The average mosquito takes in about 5-millionths of a liter of blood during feeding.
<< Mosquitoes find hosts by sight (they observe movement); by detecting infra-red radiation emitted by warm bodies; and by chemical signals (mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and lactic acid, among other chemicals) at distances of 25 to 35 meters.
<< Mosquitoes fly an estimated 1 to 1.5 miles per hour.
<< Bigger people are often more attractive to mosquitoes because they are larger targets and they produce more mosquito attractants, namely CO2 and lactic acid.
<< Active or fidgety people also produce more CO2 and lactic acid.
<< Women are usually more attractive to mosquitoes than men because of the difference in hormones produced by the sexes.
<< Blondes tend to be more attractive to mosquitoes than brunettes.
<< Smelly feet are attractive to mosquitoes — as is Limburger cheese.
<< Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes.
<< A full moon increased mosquito activity 500 percent in one study
Source: American Mosquito Control Association,/www.mosquito.org/mosquito-information/fun-faqs.aspx