The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) issued a statement reminding the public that mosquitoes carry viruses that can cause serious illness or death. The most dangerous times of day for mosquito bites are dusk and dawn.
One of the viruses carried by certain types of mosquitoes causes Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). EEE is rare, but it is present in Alabama. The EEE virus can cause severe illness and death. There is no vaccine for EEE, and no specific treatments are available for this mosquito-spread illness. Two cases of EEE in humans have already been reported in Baldwin County this season, including one where a seven-year-old little girl died in Spanish Fort.
In addition to EEE, other arboviruses that occur in Alabama include West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and La Crosse encephalitis virus. A case of West Nile Virus was recently identified in Mobile County.
ADPH stays in contact with local community leaders regarding mosquito control and education efforts. A larvicide is an insecticide used to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors around homes. Larvicides work by killing mosquito larvae before they can grow into adults. When used according to product label instructions, larvicides do not harm people, pets, or the environment. Municipalities can control mosquitoes through spraying and placement of larvicide briquettes in areas with standing water.
ADPH has created a new flyer to educate the public about prevention and how to protect yourself and your family. This flyer has been placed on the ADPH website and distributed to local boards of education. ADPH is asking local hospitals and medical offices to report diseases spread by mosquitoes.
Mosquito repellents are particularly needed at the dawn and dusk hours. Municipal mosquito control spraying is needed to prevent new hatches.
To avoid being bitten by mosquitos:
· Use insect repellents.
· Wear long sleeves and long pants whenever possible
· Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothes
· Treat clothing with repellents
· Use air conditioning or screens on windows and doors.
Mosquito Control Outside Your Home
Mosquitoes tend to lay eggs near standing water.
· Empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water. These include tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, or trash containers.
· Tightly cover buckets, cisterns, and rain barrels.
· If a container has no lid, cover it with wire mesh with holes. Holes need to be smaller than an adult mosquito.
· If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps.
· Use larvicides if a body of water is large, cannot be covered or dumped out, and if water will not be used for drinking
Go to the ADPH mosquito-borne diseases webpage and the CDC’s page on mosquito-borne illnesses for more information.
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