Take the Bite Out of Spring
Mosquitoes can be more than a nuisance -- they can ruin your outdoor plans and threaten your health. So it’s a good idea to protect yourself and your family as the weather heats up.
Mosquitoes rest during the day in dark, humid areas, then come out at dusk to feed on animals and humans. The skin irritation you feel after a bite is your allergic reaction to their saliva.
Mosquito-borne illnesses, such as West Nile virus (WNV), can be passed through just one bite. Still, the chances of any given bite causing the disease are very low.
WNV, a potentially serious illness, is a seasonal scourge in North America that flares up in the summer and lasts into the fall. In 2006, 4,180 cases were reported, with 149 deaths.
“We’ve had outbreaks of West Nile virus in every state but Maine and in every year since it was discovered in the U.S. in 1999,” says Christine M. Pearson, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “There’s every reason to believe that it’s here to stay.”
Protect yourself
The best way to avoid WNV is to avoid mosquito bites.
The most direct approach may be the use of a mosquito repellent — and Americans have more options than ever. The CDC recommends three active ingredients in effective repellents: DEET (diethylmetatoluamide), picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
As temperatures rise, follow these safety measures to cut down on bites:
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Use insect repellent outside.
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Wear long sleeves, long pants, shoes and socks.
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Stay indoors, especially at dusk and dawn.
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Fix window and door screens.
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Get rid of breeding sites, such as all forms of standing water.
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Keep grass and weeds cut short.
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Use mosquito netting if you sleep outdoors.
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Don’t depend on insect light electrocuters (“bug zappers”) to control mosquitoes. They do little to reduce biting in an area.
Think of these steps as a way to bite back.
Publication Source:
Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents against Mosquito Bites. Mark S. Fradin, M.D., and John F. Day, Ph.D. New England Journal of Medicine. July 4, 2002, vol. 347, no. 1, pp. 13-18.
Publication Source:
DEET Still the Best Mosquito Repellent. Journal Watch Infectious Diseases. July 26, 2002, vol. 2002, issue 726.
Publication Source:
Health & You/Spring 2007
Publication Source:
Pearson, Christine M. public relations specialist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interview.
Publication Source:
Repelling mosquitoes. R.J. Pollack et al. New England Journal of Medicine. July 4, 2002, volume, 347, no. 1, pp. 13-18.
Publication Source:
Safety of the insect repellent N,N-diethyl-M-toluamide (DEET) in pregnancy. R. McGready et al. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. October 2001, vol. 65, pp. 285-289.
Publication Source:
Techniques for the evaluation of insect repellents: a critical review. C.E. Schreck. Annual Review of Entomology. 1977, vol. 22, pp. 101-119.
Publication Source:
The effect of sunscreen on the efficacy of insect repellent: a clinical trial. M.E. Murphy et al. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. August 2000, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 219-222.
Publication Source:
The safety and toxicity of insect repellents. Larry Goodyer and Ron H. Behrens. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1998, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 323-324.
Publication Source:
West Nile Virus in the United States. Reid R. Gerhardt. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. May-June 2006, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 170-177.
Author:
Wine, Bill
Online Source:
2006 West Nile Virus Activity in the United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&controlCaseCount06_detailed.htm
Online Source:
West Nile Virus: What You Need to Know, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/wnv_factsheet.htm
Online Editor:
Sinovic, Dianna
Online Medical Reviewer:
Brian McDonough, MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Johanna Dwyer, DSc, RD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Joseph Gonnella, MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Steve Fleck, PhD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Whorton, Donald M.D.
Date Last Reviewed:
4/11/2007
Date Last Modified:
4/11/2007