Mosquito Control ready to fight Zika
Shelly Redovan
The Lee County Mosquito Control District, based in Buckingham, is prepared to fight Zika.
The virus and mosquitos in general were the subjects discussed with Lehigh business leaders by Shelly Redovan, deputy director, Education & Communication for the Lee County Mosquito Control District.
She provided insight as to how the district is directing its efforts at ridding the county of mosquitoes that may be carrying the Zika virus.
The mosquito control district uses such aircraft, trucks and walking sprayers to alleviate mosquitoes. The District has been around since 1958.
Redovan told an audience of Greater Lehigh Chamber of Commerce members on Aug. 30 that while there may not be any cases of the Zika virus in Lehigh, residents should always be on the outlook for mosquito breeding areas.
“And especially now with all the rains that we have had,” she said.
“Everyone should be checking their yards following these rains and be sure rain water has not filled up bird baths, plant containers and other items such as tires that may be in the back of your homes. These are excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes,” Redovan said.
She said that mosquito control district personnel trap as many at 365,000 mosquitoes per trap night and check to make sure they are not carrying several viruses that can be dangerous to humans who are bitten. That includes animals such as pets, too, she said.
Years ago before Southwest Florida became heavily populated when there were no control mechanisms to rid misquotes of the area, there were reports of mosquitoes completely blacking out screens. A heavy mosquito population can also suffocate farm animals.
She urged Lehigh residents to make sure they cover their bodies to when going out, especially at sunrise or sunset to protect from being bitten by mosquitoes.
In her presentation, she made available a 12-page pamphlet describing different mosquitoes and how their crews monitor and spray to kill mosquitoes. In it, it noted that Lee County alone contains more than 56,000 acres of potential salt marsh breeding habitat for mosquitoes.
That includes Sanibel where mosquito egg densities are large.
She said Fort Myers Beach has its own mosquito control district.
She noted that mosquitos are born from eggs and hatch in exposed water. The newborn larvae live in the water and molt several times and most species of mosquitos surface to breath air.
The adult mosquito flies a short time later after emerging and after its body parts have hardened.
The Zika virus, as many know now, can cause birth defects to newborns. Women who are traveling out of the country to areas where there are several cases of the Zika virus may bring the virus to the U.S. unknowingly.
“When we find out there may be an area in Lee County where they are Zika virus carrying mosquitoes, the District goes into action with heavy spraying, both from the air and on the ground, Redovan said.
Juan Dumois, director of pediatric infectious disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital said if a woman is infected with Zika during pregnancy, it can spread through the body and get into the fetus crossing the placenta, and it does have a tendency to get into nerve cells in the brain, and damage the brain. The baby’s brain is developing a lot in the first trimester so that may be the worst time to get Zika infection because there’s an increased likelihood that the baby will have permanent brain damage, and be born with microcephaly.
Redovan noted that if there are neighborhoods that seem to be overrun by mosquitoes, residents should notify the Lee County Mosquito Control District and a special assault with take place from both the air and from truck and walk spraying.
Redovan noted that Zika is not the only disease that can be carried by mosquitoes, which can carry St. Louis Encephalitis, West Nile virus, Eastern Esquire Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and even Malaria.
Always use a product that is EPA approved insect repellants anytime you’re outdoors.
Redovan said it is also a good idea to spray the clothing that is on your body and that helps to repel mosquitoes.
Mosquito Control ready to fight Zika
Shelly Redovan
The Lee County Mosquito Control District, based in Buckingham, is prepared to fight Zika.
The virus and mosquitos in general were the subjects discussed with Lehigh business leaders by Shelly Redovan, deputy director, Education & Communication for the Lee County Mosquito Control District.
She provided insight as to how the district is directing its efforts at ridding the county of mosquitoes that may be carrying the Zika virus.
The mosquito control district uses such aircraft, trucks and walking sprayers to alleviate mosquitoes. The District has been around since 1958.
Redovan told an audience of Greater Lehigh Chamber of Commerce members on Aug. 30 that while there may not be any cases of the Zika virus in Lehigh, residents should always be on the outlook for mosquito breeding areas.
“And especially now with all the rains that we have had,” she said.
“Everyone should be checking their yards following these rains and be sure rain water has not filled up bird baths, plant containers and other items such as tires that may be in the back of your homes. These are excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes,” Redovan said.
She said that mosquito control district personnel trap as many at 365,000 mosquitoes per trap night and check to make sure they are not carrying several viruses that can be dangerous to humans who are bitten. That includes animals such as pets, too, she said.
Years ago before Southwest Florida became heavily populated when there were no control mechanisms to rid misquotes of the area, there were reports of mosquitoes completely blacking out screens. A heavy mosquito population can also suffocate farm animals.
She urged Lehigh residents to make sure they cover their bodies to when going out, especially at sunrise or sunset to protect from being bitten by mosquitoes.
In her presentation, she made available a 12-page pamphlet describing different mosquitoes and how their crews monitor and spray to kill mosquitoes. In it, it noted that Lee County alone contains more than 56,000 acres of potential salt marsh breeding habitat for mosquitoes.
That includes Sanibel where mosquito egg densities are large.
She said Fort Myers Beach has its own mosquito control district.
She noted that mosquitos are born from eggs and hatch in exposed water. The newborn larvae live in the water and molt several times and most species of mosquitos surface to breath air.
The adult mosquito flies a short time later after emerging and after its body parts have hardened.
The Zika virus, as many know now, can cause birth defects to newborns. Women who are traveling out of the country to areas where there are several cases of the Zika virus may bring the virus to the U.S. unknowingly.
“When we find out there may be an area in Lee County where they are Zika virus carrying mosquitoes, the District goes into action with heavy spraying, both from the air and on the ground, Redovan said.
Juan Dumois, director of pediatric infectious disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital said if a woman is infected with Zika during pregnancy, it can spread through the body and get into the fetus crossing the placenta, and it does have a tendency to get into nerve cells in the brain, and damage the brain. The baby’s brain is developing a lot in the first trimester so that may be the worst time to get Zika infection because there’s an increased likelihood that the baby will have permanent brain damage, and be born with microcephaly.
Redovan noted that if there are neighborhoods that seem to be overrun by mosquitoes, residents should notify the Lee County Mosquito Control District and a special assault with take place from both the air and from truck and walk spraying.
Redovan noted that Zika is not the only disease that can be carried by mosquitoes, which can carry St. Louis Encephalitis, West Nile virus, Eastern Esquire Encephalitis, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and even Malaria.
Always use a product that is EPA approved insect repellants anytime you’re outdoors.
Redovan said it is also a good idea to spray the clothing that is on your body and that helps to repel mosquitoes.
Business
Free LeeTran bus rides Monday
Bridge closure causing long traffic delays
