By Amy Porter, Editor
With help from Stephanie Orr, Copy Editor
Q: Did last year’s mild winter affect the mosquito population?
A: Our winters have never been severe. You have to be below zero for a long time to kill the eggs. You can have mosquitos develope in horse footprints in the middle of a field, if conditions are right. Outdoor plants with water receptacles are a common place for mosquitos to lay eggs. They like protected areas like abandoned tires, which are nice and dark. They live on the algae that grow in the tires.
Q: Where did West Nile virus come from?
A: Two years ago, the West Nile virus appeared in New York. It probably came form some idiot that shipped something in with water in it. Once the infected mosquitos grew and reproduced, the virus spread.
Q: Who should worry about getting West Nile?
A: Viruses always kill the old, the weak, the young and the sick. A perfectly healthy person could have it and never know and be just fine.
Q: If you get West Nile, will you have it forever?
A: I doubt that when you have West Nile you’ll have it for the rest of your life. People start all kinds of rumors.
Q: If you get West Nile virus, can you take an antibiotic?
A: There are no treatments for viruses. There are only vaccines. There is no medication for viral diseases. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections.
Q: What can I do you keep my animal from getting West Nile?
A: To keep your animals healthy, limit their exposure to mosquitoes. Don’t keep them outside overnight.
Q: What insect repellant is the most effective?
A: DEET is the most effective mosquito repellant and the safest. There’s always going to be someone who, if you spray it one them, they’ll have a reaction.
- Most people who become infected with West Nile virus will have either no symptoms or mild ones.
- However, on rare occasions, West Nile virus can result in severe and sometimes fatal illness.
- There is no evidence to suggest West Nile virus can be spread from person to person or from animal to person.
- The West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of bird, and some other animals.
- On Rare Occasions, West Nile virus infection can result in severe and sometimes fatal illnesses.
- Always read and follow the product directions when using any insect repellent or insecticide.
· Many of the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are especially likely to bite around dawn and dusk.
· The safest decision is to apply repellant whenever you are outdoors.
· DEET does not kill mosquitoes; it just makes them unable to locate us.
· The more DEET a repellant contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquitoes.
· Most insect repellants are labeled with the chemical name for DEET. Look for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide or, sometimes, N,N-diethly-3-methylbenzamide.
· It is recommended that you do not apply repellants with DEET to animals, because they may lick themselves and therefore “eat” the product.
· Limit the places available for mosquitoes to lay eggs by eliminating standing water sources around your home.
· Human illness from West Nile virus is rare, even in areas where the virus has been reported.
For more information about repellants safety, go to
epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/insectrp.htm
Q: What’s the deal with the bees this year? They seem to be everywhere.
A: They’re probably yellow jackets. They are scavengers attracted to discarded meat, soda and anything fermenting. (Which explains why they are around the trashcans.)
Q:
Did the mild winter we had last year affect the number of bees we’re seeing this
year?
A: There are just as many bees as last year. We never get a cold enough winter to penetrate the walls [where they live] and kill the queens. The dryness affected a lot of plants, so the bees are in a frenzy to get any available food before winter.
Q: Are the bees a threat to students?
A: They’re only going to attack you if you threaten them or step on their nest. They build nests underground and in walls and they could be anywhere. They’re an annoyance, but they’re not going to bother you.
Doctor Pat Dailey (left) is an LC Biology and Human Sexuality Professor.
