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- An Ounce of Prevention
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West Nile Virus
Mosquitoes have appeared on the scene and will continue to fly
(and bite) until the first sustained frost (a period of several days) in
the late fall. There are several actions you can take to protect
yourself from West Nile.
WEST NILE VIRUS
FIVE IMPORTANT FACTS
- It is expected that there will be mosquitoes that carry West
Nile Virus in Connecticut this summer.
- If you find a dead bird on your property, do not panic. You
do not get West Nile Virus from a dead bird. You get it
from the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Reducing mosquitoes on your property is a very important
action for protecting yourself from West Nile Virus.
- Because West Nile is contracted through the bite of an
infected mosquito, it is very important to use insect repellent.
Using insect repellent throughout the whole warm weather
season provides critical protection against West
Nile.
- The State of CT will not be monitoring birds for
West Nile Virus this year. This means there will be no
collecting of birds, nor will QVHD be collecting data on dead
bird sightings. If you find a dead bird on your property, you
can bury it or double bag it and place it in the trash. When
handling any dead animal carcass, you should wear gloves.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES
The best thing that you can do to protect your family is to employ
Personal Protection Measures. These measures will accomplish two things:
Reduce mosquito populations and limit your exposure to mosquito bites.
- ELIMINATE POTENTIAL MOSQUITO BREEDING GROUNDS.
Breeding grounds can be any source of standing water. An amount of water
as small as a puddle can breed a crop of mosquitoes within a few days.
- KEEP YOUR HOME IN GOOD REPAIR. Fix holes in screens.
Make sure there are no gaps between windows and screens. Repair leaky
faucets. Keep gutters clean.
- AVOID BEING OUTSIDE AT DUSK AND DAWN WHEN MOSQUITOES ARE MOST
ACTIVE.
- USE INSECT REPELLENTS CONTAINING DEET THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
SEASONS TO REPEL MOSQUITOES.
Studies have shown that this action substantially reduces your risk
of getting West Nile. (See DEET-containing repellants: Use and Safety.)
For specific information on active ingredients in particular products,
you can call National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) or
visit www.NPIC.orst.edu
- EVALUATE STANDING BODIES OF WATER FOR STAGNATION. If
your property has a natural standing body of water, such as a pond, you
need to evaluate whether it has motion or is stagnant. Stagnant water is
defined as water without wind, waves, fish or frogs. Stagnant bodies of
water can be treated with mosquito dunks.
- PETS AND WEST NILE VIRUS
Pets and livestock can become infected with West Nile Virus if bitten by
an infected mosquito. Sick animals may have a fever, weakness, lack
coordination, have muscle spasms, seizures or experience a change in
temperament. (Other animal illnesses may have similar symptoms.) If your
animal is sick, contact your veterinarian. You cannot get West Nile from
a sick animal as it is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito.
However, such symptoms can be caused by other transmissible diseases
like rabies. Therefore, you should wear gloves when handling a sick
animal.
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WHAT'S A DUNK? |
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For stagnant water that can not be eliminated
easily, you can use mosquito dunks. These may be shaped like
doughnuts or sold in bricks or granules. Dunks contain a product
called Bti, which is an environmentally safe bacterial larvacide
that kills mosquitoes before they hatch. You can purchase them at
hardware stores and garden centers. Follow the directions on the
product label for correct application and the amount needed. |
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STANDING
WATER
CAN COLLECT IN ANY
OF THESE PLACES |
- OLD TIRES
- WATERING CANS
- PUDDLES
- CHILDREN’S WADING POOLS
- POORLY MAINTAINED POOLS
- BIRD BATHS
- OVERWATERED LAWNS
- RAIN BARRELS
- CLOGGED GUTTERS
- POOL OR BOAT COVERS
- FLOWER POT DISHES
- ORNAMENTAL PONDS WITHOUT FISH ORFILTRATION
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DEET-CONTAINING REPELLENTS: USE AND SAFETY
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Repellents containing DEET are effective against
mosquitoes and ticks. The percent concentration of DEET in a product
relates to the length of time it will repel insects. For example,
6.65% DEET will repel insects for about 2 hours, while 20% will
repel insects for about 4 hours.
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Repellents may be used on children. The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that they can be used on children
as young as two months. Other sources state usage for two years and
older.
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Repellents may be sprayed on clothes, but should not
be sprayed under clothes.
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Do not use excessive amounts.
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Follow directions on the product label.
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Do not apply to hands, face or broken/damaged skin.
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Wash off repellents when you return indoors.
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Do not spray near food or in enclosed areas.
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Do not allow young children to apply products by
themselves.
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The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
advise against using a combination sunblock/insect repellent. Both
products can be used at the same time, but it is better to apply
them separately, as sunblock may require more frequent applications
than insect repellent.
TOXIC REACTONS FROM INSECT REPELLENTS ARE RARE.
MOST REACTIONS COME FROM IMPROPER USE.
NON-DEET CONTAINING ALTERNATIVES
There are some new products on the market that repel mosquitoes and
do not contain DEET. The new products are picaridin (also known as
KBR3023) and oil of lemon eucalyptus (also known as PMD.) These two
products are the only other products besides those containing DEET that
are recognized by the CDC as effective against mosquito bites. (Their
effectiveness against ticks is still under evaluation.) Other products,
such as "Skin So Soft" or soy or citron-based products, may offer some
very short-lived protection against mosquito bites.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINKS
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