April 26, 2007

Mosquito Season Warning from Region’s Health Officials

Now is the time to get rid of standing water around homes

Inland Northwest -The Spokane Regional Health District and the Panhandle Health District are urging people to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes by reducing mosquito habitat. Mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus (WNV), which infected more than 1,000 people in Idaho last year, causing 21 deaths. Washington State had three cases of WNV in people during 2006.

A wetter than normal winter may lead to more mosquito-breeding habitat. Small amounts of stagnant water provide an ideal location for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, producing adult mosquitoes in about one week.

“We are gearing up for West Nile virus season. Now is the time when mosquitoes begin hatching,” explained Dave Hylsky, environmental health specialist for the Panhandle Health District. “People need to take responsibility for reducing mosquito habitat around their homes.”

Some of the most common types of mosquitoes in our region thrive in urban areas with minimal sources of standing water. Often categorized as “container breeders,” these mosquitoes lay their eggs on small amounts of standing water. In ideal conditions, less than one inch of water can yield adult mosquitoes in about one week.

“Most mosquitoes live for one to two months and have a flight range of one-half to two miles,” said Julie Awbrey of the Spokane Regional Health District. “For that reason, it’s important for each person to look around their patio, yard or garden to see where water may be collecting.”

Mosquito Season
Mosquitoes begin to appear when the spring weather becomes consistently warm. Understanding the basics of the mosquito lifecycle is one of the measures people can take to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne disease.

Health officials recommend that area residents take the following actions to protect against mosquitoes:
Eliminate Sources of Standing Water:

• Regularly empty anything that holds standing water including old tires, buckets, wheelbarrows, plastic covers, tarps, toys and plant saucers.
   
• Clean rain gutters and make sure they drain properly. Rain gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each year.
   
• Empty bird baths, wading pools and animal troughs once a week.
   
• Dispose of plastic containers, ceramic pots, tin cans, old tires and other water-holding containers. Don’t forget containers that have become overgrown with vegetation.
   
• Drill holes in the bottom of all containers that are left outside, such as recycling bins and plant saucers.
   
• Ensure water doesn’t collect in cans or bottles that are waiting to be recycled.
   
• Aerate ornamental pools and water features. Mosquitoes will not lay eggs in moving water.
   
• Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Drain or fill in low lying areas.
   
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs. Make sure water doesn’t collect on pool covers.

Educating the public and communicating with health care providers and veterinarians are the primary strategies as the agencies gear up for mosquito season and West Nile virus. In addition, both Health Districts are working closely with partner agencies to increase surveillance for specific types of dead birds, sometimes an indicator of the presence of West Nile virus. Washington residents can call  (509) 323-2847 for information on West Nile virus, dead birds, and reducing their risk of mosquito bites. Idaho residents can call (208) 415-5299 for information on West Nile virus or (208) 415-5108 with questions.

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