BY: Steve Byrns
Sonja Swiger, Extension Veterinary Entomologist gives 5 tips on the Zika Virus
The mosquito-transmitted Zika virus is a potential threat to the health of unborn babies in Texas and other states,
and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has stepped up efforts
to educate the public on ways to protect themselves from this new menace, said
agency entomologists.
“While people enjoy outdoor activities and travel this summer,
it’s important to remember that our first line of defense against Zika is to
avoid being bitten by mosquitoes,” said Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension
entomologist at Stephenville. “The Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus
mosquitoes that transmit Zika occur commonly in our backyards where
their eggs are laid and larvae live in standing water. Like other mosquito
species, they are active at sunrise and sunset, but commonly bite throughout the day as
well.”
Swiger said it’s important to remember the “Four Ds” as a first
line of defense. They are:
-- Drain: Empty standing water, thus eliminating mosquito breeding
sites.
-- Dress: Put on long sleeved shirts and pants when going outside.
-- Defend: Apply
mosquito repellent when going outside.
-- Dusk and Dawn:
Avoid outdoor activity during these two most mosquito-active periods.
Swiger said simple steps such as repairing screen doors and
window are critically important to keeping mosquitoes out. Managing
landscape water features is another key area in the fight against the spread of
the Zika virus.
“Mosquito dunks, commonly sold in garden centers for mosquito
control in home water features, can be used to treat water that cannot be
readily drained,” she said. “The dunks contain insect growth regulators or
mosquito-specific bacteria to effectively control mosquito larvae. Neither approach
is harmful to fish or other aquatic organisms.”
Dr. Mike Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist at
Dallas, said that fighting Zika will be much different than fighting West Nile
virus. Aedes mosquitoes infected with Zika are not easily detected, so
health officials have to rely on actual human cases to identify hot spots.
“In addition, city and county truck-mounted sprayers are less
effective at killing Aedes mosquitoes, so stopping these mosquitoes in each and
every backyard is even more important. Everyone will need to pitch in,”
he said.
“Anything that holds water should be dumped or treated. Breeding
areas can include sites as benign as containers under potted plants and bird
baths. Other trouble areas are old tires, empty cans and bottles, kiddie pools,
buckets, boat tarps and even clogged gutters
.
“It doesn’t take much water for them to reproduce,” he
said. “Small containers can hold enough water to breed
mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes don’t travel far from their larval habitat,
so if you’ve got them, chances are you unknowingly raised them.”
Swiger said there are many mosquito repellents available, but
all approved formulations share two commonalities. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency registration of these repellent products means
first, that the active ingredient has been tested and is safe for people
to use, and second, that it’s effective in repelling mosquitoes when used as
directed.
“EPA and the Centers for Disease Control have evaluated
scientific reports and conclude mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin,
oil of lemon eucalyptus, called IR3535, as active ingredients provide
reasonably long-lasting protection from mosquito bites,” Swiger said.
“Users should always read and follow label instructions. Most
repellents can be used on children over two months of age, with the exception
of those containing oil of lemon eucalyptus, which should not be used on
children younger than 3 years old. For babies under two months of age, infant
carriers fitted with mosquito netting are recommended. Pregnant and
breast-feeding mothers can safely use EPA-approved insect repellents.”
Swiger said constant vigilance is the key to slowing Zika and
other mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus.
“It’s the global world we live in today,” she said. “As people
travel and return from areas affected by Zika, some will return carrying the
virus. When Aedes mosquitoes bite infected people, they acquire the virus. The
mosquito then transmits it to an uninfected person, passing the virus to
them.”
Swiger said that as of this writing, there are 46 recorded cases
of Zika in Texas, all travel associated, except for one contracted sexually
from their partner who traveled. No Texas mosquitoes have been found to be
infected.
“Epidemics are expected as infected people arrive and locally
acquired infections occur,” she said. “As the many media accounts report, women
infected by the virus while pregnant are known to have babies with severe
neurological defects. Aside from mosquito infections, additional cases may
occur from sexual transmission of the disease. So at this point, controlling
mosquitoes and protecting yourself from infection are the two key factors in
the rigorous defense against this new mosquito-borne virus threat.”
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