Costco Connection - June 2012

MEDIA BAKERY

Buzz off!

for your health

Mosquito
control tips
for a
healthy
summer

WEST NILE VIRUS

“ONLY ABOUT one in 200 people infected with West Nile virus will develop severe symptoms of the disease,” says Dr. Joseph Vinetz, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Persons age 50 or older are at the highest risk for severe disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

West Nile symptoms, which usually last a week, range from fevers, headaches, nausea and vomiting to muscle weakness, vision loss and even paralysis. In rare cases, the virus can be fatal, though 80 percent of folks who contract the virus don’t experience any symptoms.

While severe cases may require hospitaliza-

Symptoms & recovery By Rita Colorito WITH SUMMER under way, mosquitoes are out to prey. These pesky insects are more than a nuisance for summer barbecues and travels. With a danger of West Nile virus nationwide and other vector-borne diseases (see “What’s your vector?”) around the globe, mosquitoes can also make you very sick.

“People tend to go to a chemical solution, but that’s not always effective,” says Joseph Conlon, spokesperson for the American Mosquito Control Association. To keep mosquitoes away, think in terms of the three D’s, says Conlon: drain, dress and defend.

Drain mosquitoes away

Standing water in your backyard—decorative fountains, fish ponds, even a dribble of water on the lids of your garbage cans—can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. To keep the mosquito population from exploding, check your yard for places water can collect. Low spots in lawns and holes in trees can trap water, so fill these in. Cover rain barrels with a screening cloth to keep mosquitoes out.

“You need to be fastidious. I’ve seen mosquitoes breed in discarded bottle caps,” says Conlon.

It takes mosquitoes five days to go from egg to adult, says Conlon, so you can keep a bird bath as long as you empty it every few days.

Mosquitoes don’t breed in deep or flowing water, so choose circulating fountains and avoid shallow fish ponds less than a foot deep. A larvicide in water features will also reduce mosquitoes.

tion, usually to replenish fluids, Vinetz says most folks will feel better by taking ibuprofen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aka NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. He cautions against the use of aspirin because of the potential for side effects.

As for malaria, Vinetz advises anyone who returns from a high-risk region with a fever to immediately see a physician to rule out malaria.

The CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases ( www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid) has additional information on West Nile virus, malaria and other mosquito-transmitted diseases.—RC

or PMD) and the biopesticide IR3535. The insecticide permethrin can be sprayed on clothing and shoes for further protection, but it’s highly toxic to cats, so use with caution.

Defend your territory

Spraying your property with insecticides should be your last line of defense, says Conlon, whose organization advocates limiting their use to reduce the possibility of mosquitoes building resistance.

“While there are chemicals you can use, most only last a few hours and some involve non-target kills of other insects that help our ecosystem,” he notes. And, contrary to popular belief, he adds, mosquitoes do not breed in grass, so spraying the lawn is overkill.

To defend outdoor space, use fire and fans instead. Citronella candles provide a mild repellent, but it’s actually the smoke that keeps bugs away. Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so outdoor fans blow them away.

As for expensive mosquito traps and zappers, save your money. “We don’t advocate things that haven’t been proven effective, though some folks swear by them. As public health professionals, we don’t want people to think they’re protected when they’re not,” says Conlon. C

vector? What’s your

Dress for success

When getting dressed, choose light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. “Mosquitoes can and will bite through tight clothing,” says Conlon. Studies have shown that some mosquito breeds are attracted to the colors red and blue.

Spray on a mosquito repellent containing DEET, recommends Dr. Joseph Vinetz, professor of medicine and director of travel and tropical medicine at the University of California, San Diego. Because no repellent is foolproof, Vinetz also prescribes antimalarial drugs for travelers headed to Africa, Asia and South America, where there’s a higher risk of contracting malaria, an often fatal illness.

The Environmental Protection Agency also recommends the use of repellents containing picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (aka p-menthane 3,8-diol,

“Vector-borne disease” is the term used to describe an illness caused by an infectious microbe that is transmitted to people by spiders or blood-sucking insects, such as mosquitoes, fleas, lice, biting flies and bugs, mites and ticks. The term “vector” refers to any arthropod that transmits a disease through feeding activity.