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by karin meyer
Think the West Nile Virus
bug won’t bite you? Think again.
Lessons learned from
last summer:
• Colorado was hit
harder than any other state last year, with almost 3,000 West Nile Virus
cases reported and 61 deaths.
• People of all ages were infected, not just the elderly. The average age
of Coloradans reporting illness was 47. While the elderly and those with
compromised immune systems are particularly at risk, the illness also
struck people in their teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s.
• Illness from the West Nile Virus was anything but mild in Colorado. For
those who showed symptoms, the average length of illness was two weeks,
and many were ill for months. Symptoms ranged from malaise, headache,
fever and muscle pain to brain and nervous system disorders such as
encephalitis and meningitis.
• Of those who reported symptoms, 54 percent said they never used mosquito
repellent.
All of these statistics
are telling, but perhaps the last is the most eye-opening. Absent a
vaccine against West Nile Virus, prevention is the key to stopping
infection. Apply repellent! |
by polly
anderson
Where can I find more information on
West Nile Virus?
Larimer County, Fort Collins, Loveland, Poudre Valley Health System and
the Health District have teamed up to post West Nile Virus information at
www.healthinfosource.com. Find links to:
• Signs and symptoms
• Larviciding information (as available)
• DEET fact sheets
• Local news releases
How can I reduce the number of
mosquitoes around my house?
Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs, so it is important to
eliminate or reduce standing water.
This checklist will help:
• Clean and refill pet water and food bowls often.
• Keep gutters free of debris so water flows freely.
• Clean and refill birdbaths weekly.
• Cover trash cans and recycling containers or cut drainage
holes so water can’t accumulate.
• Check your property for other places water can accumulate, including
wheelbarrows, grills, planters and flower pots, empty
pipes, air conditioners, old tires (including tire swings) and flat
roofs. |
apply
repellent
chart
comparing repellent effectiveness
How does mosquito repellent work?
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. Many
repellents contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), a chemical which
repels the mosquito, making the person unattractive for feeding. DEET
does not kill mosquitoes; it just makes them unable to locate us.
Are non-DEET
repellents effective?
Some non-DEET repellent products also provide some protection from
mosquito bites. However, studies have suggested that other products do
not offer the same level of protection, or that protection does not
last as long as products containing DEET. A soybean-oil-based product
has been shown to provide protection for a period of time similar to a
product with a low concentration of DEET (4.75 percent) The type and
concentration of repellent to use depends on the amount of time you
will be outdoors as well as your exposure to mosquitoes.
chart
comparing repellent effectiveness
How should
products containing DEET be used on children?
No definitive studies exist in the scientific literature about what
concentration of DEET is safe for children. No serious illness has
been linked to the use of DEET in children when used according to
product recommendations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests applying repellent with
low concentrations of DEET to infants 2 months and older. “Insect
repellents containing DEET with a concentration of 10 percent appear
to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30 percent when used
according to the directions on the product labels,” the AAP says.
How should I
apply repellent?
Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label when
using repellent and use these precautions with children:
• When using repellent on a child, apply it to your hands and then rub
them on your child.
• Avoid children’s eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their
ears.
• Do not apply repellent to children’s hands. (Children may tend to
put their hands in their mouths.)
• Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent themselves;
have an adult do it for them. Keep repellents out of reach of
children.
• Do not apply repellent to skin under clothing. If repellent is
applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again.
How often should
repellent be reapplied?
Follow the directions on the product you are using in order to
determine how frequently you need to reapply it. Sweating,
perspiration or getting wet may mean that you need to re-apply
repellent more frequently. The more DEET a repellent contains the
longer time it can protect you. A higher percentage of DEET in a
repellent does not mean that your protection is better — just that it
will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50 percent do not
increase protection time. Turn back one page and see chart.
Source: CDC web site |
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