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West Nile virus detected in Grant County

press release, Grant County Health Department | Jul 01, 20150
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MOSES LAKE, WA – The Washington State Department of Health has notified the Grant County Health District that three Grant County mosquito samples were positive for West Nile virus. The samples were collected by Grant County Mosquito Control District #1. These are the first positive samples in Grant County this year and the second in Washington. The positive samples locations were:

· One trap: Sand Dunes Road and Camas Place “Western Sand Dunes”

· Two traps: Dodson Road near I-90 exit 164

There have been no human cases of the virus in Washington this year. “These positive samples confirm that West Nile virus is active in Grant County. Residents and guests need to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites,” says Todd Phillips, Environmental Health Manager.

The risk of getting West Nile virus is very low, but anyone can become infected. People over 50 years of age have the highest risk of serious illness. Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not get sick. About 1 in 5 people infected will have mild symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches. Even fewer, about 1 in 150 people infected, will have more severe symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of a possible West Nile virus infection, especially if you recently had mosquito bites. Severe symptoms may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and coma.

It is important to protect yourself by avoiding mosquitoes. Take these steps to avoid mosquito bites and reduce the places where mosquitoes live and breed around your home.

· Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are the most active.

· Wear a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and a hat when going into mosquito-infested areas, such as wetlands or woods.

· Use mosquito repellant when necessary. Read the label and carefully follow instructions. Take special care when using repellent on children. Mosquito repellents that contain the active ingredients DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus work best for long-lasting protection against mosquitoes.

· Make sure windows and doors are “bug tight” and repair or replace screens.

· Don’t give mosquitoes a home by:

o Emptying or discarding anything that holds standing water—bottles, cans, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, and toys.

o Changing water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, and animal troughs at least twice each week.

o Making sure roof gutters drain properly; and clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.

o Fixing leaky outdoor faucets and sprinklers.

In addition to the mosquito surveillance done by Grant County Mosquito Control District #1, there is ongoing surveillance of the virus in dead birds. You can report a dead bird online at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/eh/portal/ehs/odbrs/ or by calling the Grant County Health District at 509-766-7960.

For more information about West Nile Virus in Washington State visit: http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/WestNileVirus

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Eco-Friendly Mosquito Control

Melinda Myers

  Don’t let mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your garden and outdoor parties. Look for environmentally sound ways to manage these pests in your garden and landscape.

Start by eliminating standing water in the yard.  Buckets, old tires and clogged gutters and downspouts that hold water make the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

Drain water that collects in these as well as kids’ toys, tarps and pool covers. Store these items in the garage or turn them over to keep them from becoming a mosquito breeding ground. Even small containers hold enough water for hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes to breed.

Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week. Consider installing a small pump to keep water moving to prevent mosquito breeding. Or use an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in rain barrels and water features. The Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. They are both certified organic and safe for pets, fish, wildlife and children.

Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. These pests are less attracted to the lighter colors and can’t readily reach your skin through loose clothing. And be sure to cover as much of your skin as possible with long sleeves and pants.

Add a few birdhouses to the landscape to bring in the birds. You’ll enjoy their beauty and benefit from their diet of insects, including many garden pests and mosquitoes.

Keep the garden weeded.  Mosquitoes rest in shrubs, trees and weeds during the day. Removing weeds and managing neglected garden spaces will make your landscape less inviting to these pests.

Consider using a personal repellent to protect you against disease-carrying mosquitoes. For those looking to avoid DEET, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also approved products with the active ingredient picaridin (found in Skin so Soft products), IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellents as you need to apply the sunscreen more often than the repellent.

Add a bit more protection while sitting or eating outdoors.  Use a fan to create a gentle breeze that keeps the weak flying mosquitoes away from you and your guests. Some gardeners even take a small fan into the garden, while weeding.

Then add a bit of ambience to your next party by lighting a few citronella candles for your evening events.  Citronella oil and the scented candles do have some mosquito repelling properties.  Scatter lots of candles throughout your entertainment space.  Position the candles within a few feet of your guests.  This can provide some short term relief from these pests for you and your guests.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, http://www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.

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