Breeding Habitat
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Breeding Habitat
Insect Repellent
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Brochures provided by Clarke Mosquito Control
Information provided by Bureau of Communicable
Diseases,
Division of Public Health
WI Department of Health and Family Services
P.O. Box 2659, Madison, WI 53702
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West Nile virus (WNV) was first identified in the United States in 1999 in New York City. The virus has moved steadily west since that time and was found in southern Wisconsin in the summer of 2001. WNV is one of several viruses transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus cycles in nature between birds and mosquitoes but can infect humans and domestic animals, such as horses.
Even in areas where WNV has been found, very few mosquitoes (less than 1%) are infected with WNV and less than 1% of people bitten by a WNV-infected mosquito will become sick. When illness from a WNV infection does occur, it takes from 3 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito for symptoms to appear. Mild symptoms can include headache, fever, muscle pains, a skin rash, or swollen lymph nodes.
In rare instances, WNV causes more serious disease with symptoms of a high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and in some cases, death. Severe cases are seen most commonly in the elderly.
There is no specific treatment or vaccine for humans infected with WNV but physicians may treat patients to minimize symptoms of the infection. If you think you may have been infected with WNV, contact your physician.
To prevent mosquito bites, especially when outdoors from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active, or during the day in areas where there are weeds, tall grass, or bushes where mosquitoes may be present, the following preventative measures should be implemented:
Wear protective clothing, such as long pants, loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts, and socks
Consider using an insect repellant containing DEET
Use DEET products according to manufacturer's directions on the label
On children, use DEET products containing 10% or less DEET
Apply enough repellant to cover exposed skin and clothing
Do not apply insect repellants in enclosed areas
Avoid prolonged or excessive use of DEET products. DEET products remain effective for approximately 4 hours.
And at home:
Make sure that doors and windows have tightly fitting screens - repair or replace all screens that have tears or holes.
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs
and complete their life cycle to become adults. Reducing or eliminating
standing water around your home or property will reduce the habitat needed for
mosquitoes to reproduce. The following precautions should be taken:
Eliminate standing water that collects on your property.
Remove discarded tires that could hold water
Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers left outside
Ensure roof rain gutters drain properly - clean gutters in the spring and fall and when they are clogged
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools and hot tubs - when not in use, keep covered and/or emptied
Drain water from pool covers
Change the water in bird baths every 3-4 days
Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use
Encourage neighbors to eliminate mosquito breeding sites on their properties.
Contact your local Public Health Department is you have concerns about potential mosquito breeding habitats in your community.
Some wild birds species, especially crows and blue jays, are very susceptible to WNV and become ill and die when infected with the virus. Some governmental agencies may collect and test wild birds for WNV during the mosquito season to detect the presence of the virus in the environment.
If you should find a sick or dead crow, blue jay, or raven, please contact your local health department or local DNR office to report it. There is no evidence to indicate people can get infected with the WNV from handling infected birds, but sanitary precautions are warranted when handling any dead animal. These include using gloves or an inverted plastic bag to collect and contain a carcass that may be collected for testing. A shovel or other tool may be used to pick up a bird for disposal.
Wisconsin West Nile Virus Hotline: 1-800-433-1610
Waukesha County's West Nile Virus information hotline: 1-262-896-8508
WNV Disease Fact Sheet - Department of Health and Family Services
http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/dph_bcd/communicable/factsheets/WestNile.htm
Pesticide Rules and Requirements - Pesticide licenses, permits, certification information
Chemical control of aquatic plants and vegetation - DNR
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/waterway/aquaticplantcontrol.shtml
For additional information about WNV in Wisconsin, see:
National Pesticide Information Center - provides objective, science-based information about pesticides including mosquito repellents and insecticides, 1-800-858-7378 or e-mail npic@ace.orst.edu.
Pesticides and Mosquito Control - EPA - Information on mosquito control methods, pesticides, repellents, other resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Extensive information on WNV including prevention, surveillance, and health.
For more information on using insect repellents safely, see:
For more information on WNV and wildlife, see:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/whealth/issues/wnvbackground.htm
For additional background information on WNV, see:
or contact your local health department:
Waukesha County Health & Human Services
Waukesha County Environmental Health Division : 262-896-8300
For information on DEET, see:
What's going on with West Nile Virus? Cornell University Center for the Environment. A comprehensive, annotated listing of organizations and government agency web sites with West Nile Virus information including resources for the general public.
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Information provided by Bureau of Communicable
Diseases
Division of Public Health
WI Department of Health and Family Services
P.O. Box 2659
Madison, WI 53702
Last modified: 07/14/04
