Written by Its proving to be a banner pest and insect year here in Utah. Grasshoppers, bed bugs, japanese beetles and of course mosquitoes are making there numbers known here in our little four letter state. Your local abatement districts have all kinds of information, but are asking Utahan’s to eliminate any extra standing water as its becomes a haven mosquito larva. West Nile virus (or WNV) is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite. 
Here’s the Good News! Most people who are infected by the the virus experience no symptoms or mild, flu-like symptoms. Those at higher risk of developing potentially serious conditions are the elderly and those with lowered immune systems. However in some cases, particularly among persons 50 years of age and older, it can cause serious neurological diseases such as encephalitis, meningitis, or acute flaccid paralysis.
The West Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 and has since rapidly spread across the North Americcan continent into all 48 continental states, seven Canadian provinces, and throughout Mexico. In addition, WNV activity has been detected in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guadeloupe and El Salvador.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 15,000 people in the U.S. have tested positive for WNV infection since 1999, including over 500 deaths. Many more people have likely been infected with WNV, but have experienced mild or no symptoms. Statistically, a person’s risk of contracting West Nile is low, and less than 1% of those infected develop serious illness from the virus.
Five Common Myths about West Nile Virus
Myth #1: There’s not much I can do about West Nile virus.
Truth: There is a lot that you, personally, can do to reduce your chance of West Nile virus infection.* Reduce the number of mosquito bites you get. Make a habit of using insect repellent with DEET when outdoors. Spray repellent on exposed skin and clothing. Get the details about safe repellent use.
* Prime mosquito-biting hours are usually dusk to dawn. Pay special attention to protection during these hours, or avoid being outdoors.
* You can reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so check your yard once a week: get rid of containers that aren’t being used, empty water from flower pots, change water in bird baths and maintain clean gutters.
* Make sure window and door screens are in good condition. Have an older neighbor or family member? See if they need help installing or repairing screens.
Myth #2: Kids are at the most danger of getting sick from West Nile virus.
Truth: People over 50 are at the highest risk for developing severe West Nile disease.
* Relatively few children have been reported with severe West Nile Virus disease. By contrast, most of the deaths due to WNV during 2002 were among people over 50 years old. Half of those deaths were among people over 77 years old.
* It is always a good idea for children to avoid mosquito bites, but it’s also important for adults – especially older adults – to take steps to avoid mosquito bites. Click here for suggestions on how to avoid mosquito bites.
Myth #3: It’s only people who are already in poor health who have to worry about West Nile virus.
Truth: Healthy, active older adults who spend time working and exercising outdoors have been affected by severe West Nile virus infection.
* Being over 50 is a risk factor for developing severe West Nile disease if infected with the virus. There is a risk of getting mosquito bites while leading an active life outdoors. This doesn’t mean you have to stay inside – it does mean that it’s important to use repellent when you go outside.
Myth #4: Repellents containing DEET are not safe.
Truth: Repellents containing DEET are very safe when used according to directions.
* Because DEET is so widely used, a great deal of testing has been done. When manufacturers seek registration with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for products such as DEET, laboratory testing regarding both short-term and long-term health effects must be carried out.
* There are products with different strengths (percentage of DEET) available. The longer the protection you need the higher percent of DEET needed.
* Repellent with DEET can be used for both adults and children, according to directions
* Click here for much more information on using repellents safely.
Myth #5: As long as my area has a mosquito control program, I don’t have to worry about using repellent.
Truth: Mosquito control activities don’t eliminate every mosquito, so personal protection is still important.
* Public activities, such as using products to kill mosquito larvae and adult mosquitoes, are one part of control. Personal protection, such as using repellent, keeping window screens in good condition, and control of household breeding sites are other important steps.
* Collaboration between the community, the family and the individual is needed to achieve the best prevention of West Nile virus infection.
Common Questions and Common Sense
Q. How does mosquito repellent work?
A. Female mosquitoes bite people and animals because they need the protein found in blood to help develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted to people by skin odors and carbon dioxide from breath. The active ingredients in repellents make the person unattractive for feeding. Repellents do not kill mosquitoes. Repellents are effective only at short distances from the treated surface, so you may still see mosquitoes flying nearby.
Q. Which mosquito repellents work best?
A. CDC recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. When EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment. EPA registration means that EPA does not expect a product, when used according to the instructions on the label, to cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.
Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, CDC believes that these have demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:
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DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
Picaridin (KBR 3023)
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD – p-menthane, 3,8 diol)
If you are of the Organic Preference you might be interested to note this:
Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil 4 fl oz: C
Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant- based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET. Note that the label for products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus specifies that they should not to be used on children under the age of three years. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a sustainable resource.
EPA recommends the following precautions when using insect repellents:
* Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label.) Do not use repellents under clothing.
* Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
* Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays, do not spray directly on face—spray on hands first and then apply to face.
* Do not allow children to handle the product. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child. You may not want to apply to children’s hands.
* Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application and saturation are generally unnecessary for effectiveness. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
* After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days. Also, wash treated clothing before wearing it again. (This precaution may vary with different repellents—check the product label.)
* If you or your child get a rash or other bad reaction from an insect repellent, stop using the repellent, wash the repellent off with mild soap and water, and call a local poison control center for further guidance. If you go to a doctor because of the repellent, take the repellent with you to show the doctor.
