Standing rain increase West Nile Virus concerns

It is hot one minute and wet the next, that’s why the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control wants your help reducing the risk from the serious diseases mosquitoes can carry.

“As the weather begins to warm, regular spring cleaning activities can help reduce mosquito populations” said Sue Ferguson, an environmental health manager with DHEC’s Bureau of Environmental Health. “Removing items from your yard that collect water, cleaning roof gutters and filling in low-lying areas will help prevent mosquitoes from breeding and allow outdoor activities such as gardening, barbecues and outdoor sports to be safer and more enjoyable.

“Mosquito populations can emerge from very small amounts of water, if that water is allowed to stagnate,“ Ferguson said. “It is important to support local mosquito prevention and control efforts.“

Tips to help you make your yard safer and more pleasant:

Remove any buckets, cups, bottles, flowerpots, plastic bags, tires or any water-holding containers that might have accumulated outside.
Do not allow water to stagnate in areas of the yard such as in low-lying areas, roadside ditches, under driveway culverts, in boats or on tarps that cover yard items such as boats, swimming pools, grills and woodpiles.
Keep birdbaths and pet bowls clean. Flush with clear water and clean out at least once a week.
Clean fallen leaves and other debris out of roof gutters and spouting.
Make sure outdoor trash cans have tight-fitting lids. If lids are not available, drill holes in the bottom of the can.
Other items to check for during the spring spruce-up:

“It is important to learn how to avoid mosquito bites to reduce our chances of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases, as well as to conduct mosquito prevention and control efforts year-round, especially during spring, summer and fall,“ said Dr. Lena Bretous, epidemiologist for vector-borne diseases with DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control. “Mosquitoes become infected with the virus when they feed on infected birds. They then transmit the virus, during feeding, to humans and animals.“

In addition to preventing mosquitoes from breeding, Dr. Bretous advises people to practice personal protection measures to avoid mosquito bites:

Stay inside at dawn, dusk and early evening when mosquitoes are most active.
If you must be outside during these times, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Use appropriate insect repellents according to label directions.
Horses and dogs also can get mosquito-borne diseases. Check with your veterinarian about heartworm testing and preventive medicine for dogs. Vaccines are available to prevent West Nile virus as well as Eastern equine encephalitis virus in equines. Each vaccine should be administered in both spring and fall because South Carolina’s mosquito season is so long.