By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Bzzzzzzzzzz. SLAP! Itch. Scratch.
Familiar sounds during Ohio’s summer season when heat and water nurture people and mosquitoes. But no matter how bad it seems, or how uncomfortable it gets, it’s no where as annoying as it could be without bug spray. And, with the bugs, specifically mosquitoes, there’s the dreaded West Nile Virus.
“The West Nile Virus is here and the key to controlling the West Nile Virus is to control stagnant water,” said Ray Saporito, health commissioner at the Ashtabula County Health Department. “Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.”
Ashtabula County is home to billions of mosquito larvae this time of year. To live, they must feed. To breed, the females need a blood meal to nourish their eggs.
A few species prefer other animals, but 70 to 80 percent of local mosquitoes crave human blood.
So how do humans keep from becoming a mosquito meal?
“Remove stagnant water,” Saporito said. “That means changing bird baths weekly, and if you have rain barrels, use the water or dump it. The same goes for kiddy pools and clogged gutters.”
Plan your Fourth of July picnic for around noon because mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. And, stay out of the woods and tall grass.
He also recommends revelers wear light colors. Mosquitoes prefer dark colors, he said.
Although he doesn’t want to be labeled a “party pooper,” Saporito warns folks the West Nile virus can cause encephalitis, or a brain infection. Mosquitoes acquire the disease from birds and pass it on to other animals and people.
Anyone who comes down with a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash or swollen glands should see a doctor.
There’s no treatment for West Nile virus or a vaccine. While most people recover, in some cases hospitalization is needed.
Ashtabula County does not spray for mosquitoes, so be sure to use repellent, and of course, sun screen.
Forecasters say the sun will shine and temperatures will be in the lower- to mid-70s.
