What you need to know about mosquitoes

As you head out this Labor Day weekend, you might want to take the insect repellant with you to ward off mosquitoes. James L. Henricks, director of environmental health for Sangamon County, provides the answers to help keep you protected from those pesky mosquitoes.

Q. How to choose the right insect repellants?

A. Adults can use most insect repellants you can buy in the store.  A repellant with 30 percent deet active ingredient is sufficient.  There are also repellants made for use on young children.  As always follow instructions on the containers to their use.

Q. How to use insect repellants?

A. Insect repellants can be used on either exposed skin or on clothes, but never under clothes, on cuts or irritated skin.  Do not apply to eyes, mouth or ears.

Do not allow children to handle insect repellants.  Apply to your own hands then put it on the children.  Avoid putting repellant on children's hands.

Q. What if you do not have insect repellants, how can you protect yourself?

A. Avoid going out at dawn and dusk and at night.  These are times when mosquitoes are most active.  If one must be out during those times wear light colored long sleeve shirts and pants.  Mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors.

Q. Areas most likely to have mosquitoes?

A. Recently flooded lowlands adjacent to rivers, creeks etc. will produce a large crop of flood plain mosquitoes a week or so after flooding.

Q. What you should know about West Nile virus?

A. It is a flavivirus closely related to St. Louis encephalitis virus found in the United States.  It is common in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East. It is carried mainly by the Culex or Northern House mosquito that becomes infected when feeding on infected birds.  After an incubation period of 5-15 days infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans while biting to take blood.  The West Nile virus is not transmitted from person to person. Less than one percent of mosquitoes are infected and less than one percent of the people who get bitten will get severely ill. 

 Q. Other recommendations on protecting yourself against mosquitoes when you are outdoors?

A. The Culex mosquito is mainly an artificial container breeder.  The first and best defense against the Culex mosquito and other container breeders is to eliminate the places where they breed. 

• Remove containers such as tires, tin cans, buckets, barrels, bottles or other containers where mosquitoes may breed. 
• Keep gutters clean and properly draining.
• Change water in birdbaths and plant pots or drip trays 1-2 times a week.
• Empty your pet's water bowl daily. 
• Store boats covered or upside down.
• Level the ground around your house and fill in depressions in your yard so water does not accumulate.
• Maintain ornamental ponds.  Keep them stocked with gold fish, minnows or other mosquito eating fish.
• Keep weeds and tall grass cut.
• Know that bug zappers are not effective in controlling mosquitoes.

Also, talk to your neighbors about eliminating breeding places of mosquitoes.  The Culex mosquito is not a strong flier usually not more than a half mile of so.  So most in your neighborhood are "home grown"

Q. For more information?

A. Go to http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm or call the Sangamon County Department of Public Health at 535-3145.

West Nile update: AP -- Illinois reports year's first human West Nile case

James L. Henricks is the director of environmental health for the Sangamon County Department of Health.