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It’s
that time of year again…West Nile Virus
season. Kings County’s mosquito season
is typically from April 1 to October 31.
Are you prepared? I don’t know when
the last time it was that you purchased repellant,
but they now have unscented along with a
very nice smelling scent as well. Sprays,
lotions, creams, wipes, plug-ins. Wow! What
a variety! That’s right, we now have
a choice! You don’t have to be forced
to use the stuff we had has kids. That stuff
smelled so bad you never wanted to go outside
if it meant never having to use it.
Printable
Article (PDF) | |
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| This
year Kings County has seen some heavy rains,
and with that comes the potential for increased
breeding grounds for mosquitoes. More breeding
grounds equal a higher risk of West Nile
Virus. Please be cautious of your surroundings. |
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As of this writing, in California, the West
Nile Virus has been detected in five dead
birds in three different counties; three
in Los Angeles, one in Butte and one in Sacramento.
Therefore, its presence has reared its ugly
head already. Luckily, there are no reported
human cases to date.
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This
year Kings County has seen some heavy rains,
and with that comes the potential for increased
breeding grounds for mosquitoes. More breeding
grounds equal a higher risk of West Nile
Virus. Please be cautious of your surroundings. |
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Mosquitoes
can breed in a very small amount of
standing water. Eggs are laid
and immature mosquitoes can develop in
places such as dirty pools and spas,
ponds, birdbaths, old tires, barrels,
clogged rain gutters, flower pots, and
pet bowls, just to name a few. If you
have children’s toys outside, you
might want to give those a look-see as
well. |
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Mosquitoes
only need one teaspoon of water to
breed! Your
first duty in preparedness is to
eliminate all standing water
sources in an around where you live.
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| Next,
it would be a good idea
for you to check your door
and window screens for
any holes or openings through
which a mosquito can enter
your home. What
about the space under the
doors? If you cannot find
those attachable door flaps
that will work with your
door, a good old-fashioned
towel strategically shoved
under will suffice. |
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NEXT WEEK-
Part 2:
Symptoms, treatment, resources and
closing remarks. |
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References/Credits:
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>Use
Insect Repellent
If you need to be outside
during their active time, please make sure
you use mosquito repellent. The CDC recommends
these products:
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DEET
(Chemical Name: N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide
or N,
N-diethly-3-methyl-benzamide)
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Picaridin
(KBR 3023, Chemical Name: 2-(2-hydroxyethly)-
1-piperidinecarboxylic
acid 1-methylropyl ester)
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Oil
of Lemon Eucalyptus or PMD (Chemical
Name: para-Menthane-3,8-diol)
the synthesized version of oil
of lemon eucalyptus
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IR3535
(Chemical Name: 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic
acid, ethyl ester)
These active ingredients typically provide
reasonably long-lasting protection. For
information on repellent active ingredients,
see (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/ai_insectrp.htm).
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* * As with any chemical substance,
please make sure to read the labels before
you apply repellant, especially on children.*
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| >Proper
Clothing Can Make A Difference
Weather permitting, wear long-sleeves, long
pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes
can bite through thin clothing, so spraying
clothes with repellent will give you that
extra-added protection.
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| >Be
Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours
Dawn
and dusk are the most active times for
mosquitoes. Please be extra careful when
outdoors during this time. Depending on where
you live and what the situation is, you might
want to reconsider going outdoors during
these times. To see if there are any local
prevention efforts in your area, click
on the contacts site: the Links to State
and Local Government Sites.
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