Bad bites
This is Public Health
The sun is finally shining in Lake County and along with the sunshine comes all the fun outdoor activities that we have been eagerly anticipating all winter and rainy spring long. As you start loading up your camping, boating and fishing necessities, there is one important item you may be forgetting: mosquito repellent.
Mosquitoes can be more than just an annoyance; they can be harmful to your health. West Nile virus (WNV) is caused by a bite from an infected mosquito that’s already carrying the virus and it can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people (about four out of five) who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop any type of illness (an asymptomatic infection). However, if you do become ill, you will typically develop symptoms between three and 14 days after you are bitten by the infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches and occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph nodes. While the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have reported being sick for several weeks.
Most people who do become sick recover fully. However, you’re more likely to develop a severe or fatal infection based on one’s age and health. Adults over the age of 50 and those who have a weakened immune system, such as from receiving an organ transplant, are at greater risk of infection.
There is no specific treatment for WNV infection. In milder cases, people experience symptoms such as fever and aches that resolve on their own. In more severe cases, people generally need to be hospitalized where they can receive supportive treatment including intravenous fluids, help with breathing and nursing care.
West Nile virus first appeared in the United States in the summer of 1999 and since then has been found in all 48 contiguous states. Montana had five confirmed cases of WNV in humans in 2009, two of whom were hospitalized, one of which was from Lake County.
Insect repellent containing DEET helps reduce your exposure to mosquito bites that may carry West Nile virus or other diseases, allowing you to continue to play, work and enjoy the outdoors with a lower risk of disease. You should use repellent even if you’re only going outside for a few minutes-it only takes one bite to get West Nile virus. An effective repellent will contain no more than 50% DEET. DEET in concentrations greater than 50% provides no additional protection. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a low concentration DEET product, 10% or less, on children aged 2 to 12 years. Many of the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus bite between dusk and dawn. If you’re outside during these hours pay special attention to using repellent and wear long sleeves and pants. Always follow the directions on the product you choose to use.
In addition to using repellent, there are other ways you can avoid the buzz of pesky mosquitoes. Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out and keep children’s wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren’t being used.
Enjoy our short Montana summer and take the proper preventive measures to make it a safe one!
For more information on West Nile virus, contact the Lake County Health Department at 883-7288.