West Nile Virus Emergency In Texas – How To Protect Yourself

It’s been reported that Texas health officials have declared a state of emergency there due to a high rate of people becoming infected with West Nile Virus that was transmitted through mosquito bites. There were 16 deaths attributed to the illness.

Unfortunately the state’s first response is to do aerial spraying of insecticides which is the first time this has been done in 45 years. But what is one to do? On a public or community scale, widespread control is the only real choice at this point. And we hope it’s a short term application. But let’s not forget that this method may not control mosquitoes completely so you still need to consider personal protection.

In truth there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself.

One of the reasons the mosquito problem has increased this year, and in Texas in particular is that the state had a very warm winter, and abundant rains in the spring. This lead to a perfect breeding season for the insects. In other parts of the country, such as the upper Midwest where we live, the bugs haven’t been as much of a problem due to the drought. Despite these variables though, West Nile has been found in most locations around the U.S.

But it’s obvious from the weather conditions noted above that water plays a big role in mosquito production. So the first thing you want to do is limit or get rid of any standing water that you can. Dump stagnant water from any buckets, old tires, tubs, etc and dry these things out.

In small ponds, use a small aerator to keep some movement and agitation in the water. Mosquitoes prefer really stagnant and still water so a little movement will deter them.

For direct control of any larvae that may have hatched, use a product containing BTI which is a naturally occurring bacteria that will kill the larvae when ingested. You can find this in the form of dunks and pellets.

Be sure to protect the person by using a non-deet containing insect repellent. We prefer this one, but there are a number of solutions on the market today and many of them provide good protection.

And finally, you can help to control the flying insects in your immediate area by using a non-chemical insect and mosquito trap. Many of these work well and can help to provide a bit more protection around your home.

It’s important to understand that while the thought of getting bitten by a mosquito that transmits West Nile can be a scary proposition, the facts indicate that out of 100 people bitten, only one person may come down with symptoms of WND at all. And you can reduce the chances of having any problems even more by following a few simple steps.