 |
|
|
| 7/27/2010 8:16:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
|
| Fair Board president Steve Kruger shows off a product that he hopes will help repel mosquitoes at the fairgrounds in Arlington. |
| | What is West Nile virus? | West Nile virus is an encephalitis virus that can infect humans, birds, mosquitoes, horses and other mammals. About 80 percent of people who contract the virus will never become sick, but some will develop flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting. Severe illness can affect about one in 150 people, severe symptoms such as high fever, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Some neurological effects could become permanent. The virus is spread mainly through mosquitoes, but can be passed through blood transfusions (blood is now screened for WNV), organ transplants and breastfeeding.
|
|
Mosquitoes swarm, but don't worry . . . yet
Stephanie Ludwig
Reporter
It's been a bad year for mosquitoes but health officials say there's no reason to worry yet.
West Nile virus, spread mainly through infected mosquitoes, has not been found in the Washington County area yet, said Jeff Kuhr, director of Three Rivers Public Health. In fact, only three mosquito pools in the entire state have tested positive for the virus.
"It's a little surprising," Kuhr said. "Most think because the mosquito population appears so much higher this year that we would have it, but no. That's a good thing."
Due to heavy rains and flooding that resulted in standing water, where mosquitoes lay their larvae, mosquito populations in eastern Nebraska are higher than normal this summer.
Kuhr said health officials with Three Rivers have dropped larvacide dunks, intended to kill mosquito larvae, into stagnant pools of water throughout the health department's coverage area. The dunks have a controlled release and will continue to work even if the pool evaporates and comes back.
The Village of Arlington has also been battling the mosquitoes. Village clerk Linda Douglas said city workers have been spraying a substance to kill the mosquitoes every other day since the village experienced flooding in June. She said there are plans to continue the spraying all summer long.
Blair public works administrator Al Schoemaker said the city has not sprayed for mosquitoes in years, and has not had any requests for it yet this year.
Of course, Kuhr said West Nile virus doesn't usually show up until later in the summer.
"People still need to take precautions, even if it's a nuisance," he said.
Kuhr recommended wearing mosquito repellant when outdoors, and said a new, non-spray repellant, Thermacel, has also proven effective. The heat-generated product keeps mosquitoes at bay and has been popular with hunters.
An unusual solution to mosquitoes was found by the Washington County Fair Board, who were concerned about a pesky population of blood-sucking bugs after the fairgrounds became flooded last month.
"When the fairgrounds flooded, we knew that the mosquito population was going to go way up," said Steve Kruger, Fair Board president. "I had heard about garlic oil from the Hooper Golf Course, which has used it for four years; and the Dodge County Fair plans to use it this week on their grounds."
The oil comes in a liquid form, which is applied through a sprayer. It doesn't kill mosquitoes, but the smell repels them away from the area.
"I've been trying it around my house to see if it works," Kruger said. "You can smell the garlic initially, but it dissipates after about a half hour."
Kruger said the garlic oil lasts for about a week, if rain doesn't wash it away, but the board intends to use it as often as necessary during the fair.
"We're committed to providing a safe environment for people as well as livestock, and garlic has no residual effect so come and enjoy the fair!" Kruger said.
|
|
|
|
|
