A case of West Nile disease has been recorded in New Orleans and the city is responding to the mosquito threat.
A New Orleans resident has a serious case of West Nile virus, according to city officials. The state health department reported the case this week, saying it involves the patient’s brain or nervous system, a news release from the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board said. The symptoms began the week of Aug. 13. The virus can be spread if a mosquito bites someone after biting an infected bird. Most infected people don’t have any symptoms, and most cases are similar to the flu. Common symptoms can include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious symptoms or even death, especially for people who are older than 65 years old or immunocompromised.
nola.com
The city is responding by spraying for mosquitos. You have to get rid of them to stop them from being spreading the virus.
An airplane will spray part of the city for mosquitoes Tuesday night, officials said. Weather permitting, an insecticide against southern house mosquitoes will be sprayed between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday. The targeted area is bounded by Tchoupitoulas Street, River Road, the Jefferson Parish line, Howard Avenue and Interstate 10. The southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, is the primary spreader of the West Nile virus in south Louisiana, according to city officials.
Since a small area is being sprayed it is up to us to protect ourselves and there are things we can do.
Officials are urging people to protect themselves from mosquito bites by limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, using EPA-approved insect repellents and mosquito-proofing residences by maintaining screens on windows and doors. Residents are also urged to empty water-filled containers to reduce mosquito breeding sites. Change water every week in containers that cannot be removed, such as bird baths, sugar kettles, pools and ponds. It takes seven days for mosquitoes to grow from an egg to an adult, so it is important to inspect outdoor areas every week, they said.
Mosquitos are bad enough but now with this possibility they are worse. I can understand why a WWII aircraft was called the mosquito! This is the Lancaster Mosquito.
