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New strains of mosquitos
Monsoon season is approaching
and the La Paz County Health
Department wants the public to be
informed about two new strains
of mosquito that produce painful
results to the human body.
“These two viruses are emerging
and we have to take care of citizens
by informing them. We’ve dealt with
West Nile Virus and encephalitis;
with the monsoon season approaching people need to be aware of these
mosquitoes,” stated La Paz County
Health Director, Marion Shontz.
Dengue virus is spread by the bite
of an infected Aedes mosquito. Symptoms of the virus include high fever,
chills, rash, joint or muscle pain,
body aches, nausea, diarrhea and
vomiting; and begin approximately
one week after the mosquito bite.
The virus is found throughout the
tropics and sub-tropics, it first appeared in the Western Hemisphere
in 1981.
Incubation period is four to
seven days and illness duration is
three to ten days. There is no vaccine for this virus.
In 2014, there were cases of
dengue virus in northern Mexico
near the Arizona border. It was
reported that Arizona had four
cases in 2013; and from September
to December 2014, 92 cases were
reported, according to the Arizona
Department of Health Services.
A person who has recently traveled to a country or region that have
the virus brings the other strain
chikungunya into the U.S. Symptoms of chikungunya begin three
to seven days after being bitten by
an infected Aedes mosquito, which
consist of fever and severe joint
pain, specifically in the hands and
feet; headache, muscle pain or rash.
Most infected people will feel
better within a week, however
long-term joint pain can last weeks
to months. Death is rare but can
occur. According to the Center of
July 15, 2015
Disease Control the virus has been
found in parts of Africa, Southern
Europe, Southeast Asia and islands
in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
There is no vaccine to prevent or
medicine to treat chikungunya.
Protection from Mosquitoes
The La Paz County Health Department state mosquitoes can
transmit West Nile Virus, brain inflammation (encephalitis) dengue
fever and chikungunya to humans
and animals.
The health department makes the
following suggestions:
Control
Eliminate mosquito-breeding
sites on your property. Pesticides
can be used to kill adult mosquitoes and those in the larval stage.
Homeowners can pick up pesticides at garden stores. Please read
and follow the directions. No pesticide is 100 percent safe or effective.
Prevent
All mosquitoes require water—empty, remove, cover or turn
upside down any container that
would hold water.
Change water and scrub vases holding flowers or cuttings twice a week.
Discard old tires or store them
indoors.
Screen rain barrels and openings
to water tanks or cisterns.
Repair leaky plumbing and outside
faucets.
Protect
Dress in light colored clothing,
long sleeves, long pants and socks.
If possible avoid outdoor activities
before dawn and after dusk—when
mosquitoes are most active.
Properly apply and reapply insect
repellent when outdoors, even for
a short period of time. Use insect
repellent that has been registered
by the Environmental Protection
Agency. Three repellents that can
be used and pose minimal risk are
DEET, Picaridin and oil of lemon
eucalyptus.
The county health department has
gone to Cibola and Salome to trap
mosquitoes and all results have been
negative.
County Health Department Public Information Officer, Kimberly
Poorbaugh said, “We will be asking citizens to assist by giving them
mosquito traps.”
Poorbaugh noted that anyone who
has traveled to the tropics (Caribbean, South America or Central
America) who has been bitten by
a mosquito infected by dengue or
chikungunya can return stateside
and a mosquito can bite the infected
person and pick up the viruses to
spread to other hosts.
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