Protect yourself from mosquito baby boom

Georgia’s drought kept mosquitoes, to a point, at bay. But an abundance of rain and warm weather has sparked dormant eggs to hatch. By the millions, adult mosquitoes are descending on Georgians all across the state.

“As long as these mosquitoes keep laying eggs the problem will continue,” said Elmer Gray, an entomologist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Georgia is home to 63 mosquito species. To control them in general, people can eliminate standing water and spray pesticides.

In south Georgia, though, more than just dumping containers is needed. There, mosquitoes come from riverbeds and swamps where eggs have been dormant through the drought. They are now immersed in water and hatching in record numbers, he said. Integrated pest management practices are needed, but these practices require resources, people and training.

“This is a good time for citizen groups to approach local government and request mosquito control programs,” Gray said. “In December, it won’t seem like a priority.”

Johnny Whiddon, UGA Cooperative Extension coordinator in Brooks County, said he is getting twice as many mosquito calls as last year. The southern county has many lowland areas. After receiving 19 inches of rain this spring, the areas are flooded, and mosquitoes are reproducing.

“We are applying for federal assistance to pay for spraying,” Whiddon said. “In the past, we couldn’t afford a spraying program, but now we need to figure out what we can do.”

To implement a mosquito control program, the county will need to set traps and record mosquito numbers. In the mean time, Whiddon tells citizens to treat flooded areas with larvaecide donuts and spray shrubbery around their homes with pesticides every 10 to 14 days.

Lowndes County has recorded over an 8,000 percent increase in mosquitoes in surveillance traps over a three-week period beginning April 6. The county has implemented a governmentally-funded program to assist in limiting these numbers, said Jake Price, Lowndes County extension agent.

Limit Exposure

Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Limiting exposure during peak times is recommended. This isn’t the time to experiment with unproven repellents like eating garlic or using bug zappers, Gray said.

Most homeowners can’t do much to control mosquito breeding in wild areas, but they can limit them around the house by diligently getting rid of places where the larvae develop, like the water in toys, tarps, boats or buckets.

They can also:

• Secure window screens.

• Keep vegetation trimmed.

• Use barrier sprays on plants and entryways.

• Use burgess foggers.

Wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing helps. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing and the human silhouette and sense body heat, which helps them locate blood – their food.

The most effective technique for preventing mosquito bites is the proper use of insect repellents, Gray said. He recommends products containing DEET. A product with a 10 percent to 30 percent concentration is good and protects for a few hours.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Academy of Pediatrics also approved these strengths for children over two months old.

“Products containing DEET are still the best choice for young children,” Gray said. “When treating children, an adult should apply the repellent to his or her hands first and then rub the repellent onto the child’s exposed skin, but never to a child’s hands.”

Farm ponds, usually stocked with brim, are not a source of mosquitoes. Fish are mosquito predators. However, drainage ponds located in parking lots and other commercial areas can be larval habitats, he said. Gambusia, or mosquito fish, can grow in these smaller ponds and control mosquito populations.

Serious Health Risk

Mosquitoes can leave behind more than itchy bumps when they bite. They transmit several serious diseases, including Eastern equine encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis and West Nile virus. All of these diseases can produce encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, and are extremely serious when a full-blown case occurs.

According to the Georgia Division of Public Health, five people reported West Nile virus from mosquito bites in 2008, and 47 cases were reported in 2007. Five people reported LaCrosse in 2008. Twenty horses were diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis last year. Once an animal is infected, they often die in 48 to 72 hours. Horses can be vaccinated against the disease.

“First and foremost, homeowners need to be concerned about Eastern equine encephalitis,” Gray said. “This disease is a real threat, and children and horses are the most susceptible.”

If not fatal, the disease can cause life-long disabilities, he said, and conditions now are perfect for its spread.

By April Sorrow
University of Georgia

April Sorrow is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

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From Swine Flu to Dengue Fever: Infectious Disease Risks on the Rise

Emory University environmental studies professor Uriel Kitron was in Australia last week, assisting health authorities in an outbreak of dengue fever in the state of Queensland, when news broke about the swine flu epidemic in Mexico.

Global travel and human alterations to the environment, such as rapid urbanization, are helping to fuel some infectious diseases outbreaks, says Kitron, also chair of the environmental studies department at Emory and an internationally known researcher of the eco-epidemiology of infectious diseases. Kitron's research focuses on vector-borne diseases carried by insects and ticks and the zoonoses – diseases shared by humans and animals.

"In many developing countries, people are moving from rural areas to mega-cities, where they continue to practice subsistence agriculture," Kitron says. "Whenever you have large concentrations of people, domestic animals and poor sanitation and water supply, you have many opportunities for disease transmission."

Deforestation and other human changes to the landscape are other drivers of emerging infectious diseases, he added. "For example, when you bring agriculture into formerly forested areas, you change the migration patterns of animals and expose people and their livestock to more contact with wildlife," he explains.

Stemming Dengue Fever in Australia

Unusually hot, wet weather, a rapidly developing strain of the dengue virus, and a human traveler created "a perfect storm" for dengue fever in Queensland, Australia – which is experiencing its worst outbreak in two decades. About 1,000 people have become ill with the mosquito-borne illness. Dengue fever causes severe headaches and joint pain, and exposure to a second strain can result in hemorrhagic fever and death.

Kitron joined other experts in assisting Queensland health authorities. Kitron specializes in spatial epidemiology – using geographic information systems (GIS) and other methods to gather environmental data and create maps to pinpoint disease agents and their vectors in time and space.

The outbreak was traced to a patient who had recently traveled to Papua, New Guinea. "Although quite sick, he didn't go to a doctor for several weeks," Kitron says. "Whenever you have a lag time in diagnosis like that, you miss opportunities to prevent the spread of an outbreak."

Queensland's public health efforts – combined with cooler, drier weather – appeared to have stemmed the dengue fever outbreak for now. However, Kitron says the virus may be re-introduced, or could over-winter and re-emerge in the next hot season.

The Queensland government is now considering investing in spatial analysis software. Kitron plans to return for a workshop on using the technology to aid in the response for future outbreaks.

"Use of GIS and spatial statistics can help health authorities determine which cases are more likely to lead to other cases, so that they can better target which houses should be sprayed for mosquitoes immediately, and which ones can wait," Kitron explains.

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Mosquitoes Are out in Full Force This Summer

BUSINESS WIRE--Mosquitoes top the list of summer pest concerns according to research from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). This summer’s mosquito season is no exception due to reports of increased mosquito populations and West Nile Virus (WNV) activity being reported across the country in as early as March.

“Typically, mosquito season ramps up in June and lasts through fall,” said Greg Baumann, vice president of technical services and senior scientist for NPMA. “Due to moist weather conditions and the influx of foreclosed homes, we have seen an early start to mosquito season and anticipate increased mosquito populations as temperatures rise.”

Health officials are concerned with mosquitoes spreading WNV, a potentially serious illness transmitted through mosquito bites. To date, thirteen cases of WNV activity affecting humans has been reported in 7 states including Arizona, California, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas according to the Center for Disease Control. Human fatalities have yet to be reported. Animal, avian, and mosquito WNV infections have also been reported in more than 10 states.

NPMA offers the following tips for homeowners seeking relief from mosquitoes this summer season:

• To avoid mosquito nesting and breeding sites, eliminate standing water and other sources of moisture in or around the home in flowerpots, water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, barrels, and other objects that can collect water.
• Keep windows and doors properly screened to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Be alert when outdoors during dawn, dusk and early evening hours when mosquito-biting activity can peak. Also, avoid areas near water where mosquitoes gather, especially during peak activity.
• Avoid wearing dark colors and floral prints, loose-fitting garments, open-toe shoes and sweet-smelling perfumes or colognes.
• Plan ahead for spending time outdoors and wear mosquito repellant with DEET as well as appropriate apparel such as long pants and long-sleeve shirts.

NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 5,000 members, was established in 1933 and in 2008 celebrates its 75th anniversary supporting the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property.

Public Health Continues Mosquito Surveillance

District 4 Public Health reminds the public to stay vigilant about preventing mosquito bites. So far this year, surveillance data gathered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health confirms two horses in Lowndes County and one horse in each Cook, Berrien, Brooks, and Lanier counties tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis. A dog in Ware county was also infected.

District 4 Public Health works to protect residents against mosquito-borne viruses through arboviral surveillance. Dr. Mike Womak will be assisting District 4 again this mosquito season with the collection of potential infected mosquitoes and the enhancement of the vector disease prevention skills of environmental health personnel.

He received his training from the University of Mississippi Medical School’s graduate program and the United States Air Force. He taught in the biological science program at Macon State College for 32 years. From 1999-2006 the Tennessee Valley Authority engaged his entomological services for mosquito surveillance in North Georgia and Western North
Carolina. He also was actively engaged in collecting for West Nile Virus from 2001-2004 in Macon, Warner Robins, Albany, and Valdosta, Georgia.

Mosquito traps are set, in permanent and semi-permanent water areas, and collected beginning in mid-summer and lasting until mid-fall. Once mosquitoes are trapped they are sent to the University of Georgia’s Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study for testing. If they are
found to carry any potentially dangerous viruses District 4 personnel are notified immediately. This type of surveillance allows public health to notify residents of an increased risk in the area.

Locations for setting traps are identified using known breeding areas, complaints from residents about standing water and problems with mosquitoes, and/or dead bird calls. Calls are logged and mapped using GIS to determine placement of the mosquito traps.

Although human infections from mosquito-borne viruses are rare, mosquitoes can infect humans with West Nile Virus (WNV), Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE). People can reduce their risk of contracting these viruses by taking steps to
prevent mosquito bites and reducing mosquito habitats around the home.

The following is a reminder of four simple steps you can take to prevent and reduce bites:

1) Areas with standing water are locations where mosquitoes will
lay eggs and breed. Drain or treat standing water with larvicides
(Mosquito Dunks or Mosquito Torpedoes) available at home improvement
stores. Tipping out water twice a week from planters and basins around
the house and yard as well as keeping gutters cleaned and properly
drained can prevent Mosquito problems.
2) Dawn and dusk are the times of day that mosquitoes are most
active. Avoid outdoor activity at these times.
3) Dress appropriately when outdoors for long periods of time or
when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long sleeves, pants, shoes and
socks, and clothing that is tightly woven to prevent mosquitoes from
coming in contact with your skin.
4) Use insect repellant with an EPA-approved active ingredient such
as DEET. Always follow the directions on the package for safest and most
effective use. Do not use DEET on infants or pets. For children, use
repellants sparingly and only use those that contain 10% DEET or less.

“The best prevention for West Nile Virus is to control the breeding sites of the Southern House Mosquito. This is accomplished by reducing standing water. Drain breeding sites such as clogged gutters, old buckets, swimming pools, clay jars, and dog feeding dishes. Almost
anything that will hold water can breed mosquitoes,” said Dr. Mike Womack. “Less than an inch of standing water is enough to produce hundreds of mosquitoes in a very short time.”

Products containing Permethrin can be used to treat clothing, tents, and other equipment using manufacturer specific recommendations. These products are often available in stores that also sell sporting goods.

Equine owners are encouraged to have horses vaccinated against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). District 4 Public Health currently has no confirmed cases of WNV, EEE, or SLE. In 2006 there were nine confirmed WNV cases of human infection in Georgia, including one death and one fatal confirmed case of EEE human infection in Georgia.

In 2007, Georgia reported 52 confirmed cases of WNV infection, including 1 death. In addition to WNV, two confirmed cases and one suspect case of LaCrosse Encephalitis were reported in Georgia in 2007. One suspect case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis was also reported in
2007.

District 4 Public Health serves Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson Counties.