Culex mosquito laying eggs

As summer comes, Americans will have to contend once again with the West Nile virus. For the flooded states in the Midwest, the West Nile could pose real problems as the standing water becomes ideal breeding ground for thousands of mosquitoes – the transmitters of the virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are already 8 confirmed cases of human infections of the West Nile Virus in five states (Arizona, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas). In 2007, there were a total of 2,630 cases across the country.

The disease also strikes animals and birds. Animal infections have been confirmed in 9 states: South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and California. Mosquitoes that bite an infected bird or animal can transmit the virus when they bite a human afterwards.

People do not always realize they have been infected. Only about 1 percent become severely ill and less than 20 percent manifest flu-like symptoms, which can last up to a few weeks. The remaining 80 percent who get infected do not develop any symptoms at all.

Once infected, people develop immunity. That’s the upside.

But specialists of infectious diseases advise caution: the disease can be unpredictable. People at greatest risk are those aged 50 and older and those who spend a large part of their day outdoors.

The best means of controlling mosquito population is to disrupt its breeding cycle. It usually takes 1 week from the time an egg is laid (on the water surface) until it becomes an adult.

Safety Tips:

* Always apply mosquito repellent.
* Wear long pants and shirts with light colors and long sleeves when going outdoors. Dark clothing attracts the mosquitoes.
* Have a large fan running on the patio. Mosquitoes are not strong fliers.
* Don’t drink beer outdoors. Your body produces more lactic acid which attracts mosquitoes.
* Repair torn screens on doors and windows. Cover any vent outlets with screens.
* Flush out slow-draining parts in the yard.
* Remove sources of standing water: change water often in bird baths, remove water in flowerpot saucers, clear any gutters, empty wading pools.
* Make sure pools are regularly chlorinated.
* Trim all shrubbery regularly. Keep weeds short.
* Put goldfish or other fish in water gardens. Fish eat mosquito larvae.
* Use larvicide in areas where standing water cannot be drained. Larvicide will kill mosquito larva before it reaches adult stage. Larvicide is available as mosquito dunks or doughnuts.
* Replace old mosquito dunks regularly.