LIMA, Ohio – With the return of rain to our area, Allen County Public Health reminds residents to protect themselves from mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile and La Crosse encephalitis. These infections are caused by mosquito bites and do not spread from person to person. Early symptoms of a mosquito-borne illness may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and lethargy. More serious illnesses may occur, such as La Crosse encephalitis, which is more common in children under the age of 16, and West Nile, which is more common in adults over the age of 60. Severe disease symptoms include high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness, and paralysis.
Home areas, campsites, and parks should be inspected for potential mosquito breeding sites. Standing water in tires, cans, buckets, and, most notably, treeholes provides ideal habitat for mosquito larvae. To eliminate the risk of mosquito breeding, any standing water should be removed or covered. The best way for individuals to prevent mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile or La Crosse, is to avoid mosquito bites:
- Use insect repellent registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on exposed skin. Always follow the directions on the package. When using both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first then the repellent.
- Wear long sleeves, pants, and socks.
- Wear permethrin-treated clothing to repel and kill mosquitoes.
- Use screens on windows and doors to exclude mosquitoes. And, when available, A/C can make households less hospitable to mosquitoes.
- Ensure that water does not collect in containers around the home and community by emptying water from containers such as flowerpots, buckets, barrels, and tires. Change the water in pet dishes, and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Empty children’s wading pools and store on their sides after use.
- Use chemical or biological control of larvae and adult mosquitoes when necessary.
