Heavy snow, standing water perfect mix for mosquitoes

Is it spring yet? Winter was extra-long this year, and this could mean serious populations of biting mosquitoes throughout the summer. The more snow we accumulate in the winter, the higher you can expect water levels in the valley, which means more mosquito habitats.

Carson City Health and Human Services environmental health specialists will partner with mosquito abatement professionals to conduct abatement treatments around the city throughout the summer season. This includes treatment of irrigation ditches, city parks, and even using a helicopter to perform aerial treatments of our green pastures.

Public health officials are working to fight the threat of these troublesome insects and the dangerous infections they may carry. West Nile Virus, which can cause illness in humans and horses, is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Many people who are infected with West Nile Virus have no symptoms. However, about 20 percent of those who are infected experience symptoms similar to mild flu with fever, nausea, body aches, skin rashes, headache, and tiredness.

These symptoms tend to show up between two to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. While most West Nile Virus infections are mild, some people will develop a more serious infection called West Nile Encephalitis. The symptoms of this disease include high fever, a stiff neck, confusion, coma, tremors, and occasional paralysis. If you develop any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

There are things you can do in and around your own home to protect yourself and keep mosquitos from reproducing. Carson City Health and Human Services strongly urges individuals to practice preventive measures. Use a repellent containing DEET and wear long sleeves, pants, and socks when outside, especially during dawn and dusk. Also, remove any standing water from around your house, and properly fit your window screens so mosquitoes cannot enter your home.

It is important that you take steps to protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne infections:

• Remove standing water from around your property. This includes car tires, garbage bins, gardening pots, and holes

• Eliminate piles of yard waste or debris where water can collect

• Repair or replace window screens and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home

• Repair leaky outdoor faucets to keep puddles from forming

• Treat swimming pools regularly to keep them from becoming a mosquito habitat

• Anytime you are outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk, cover up as much as possible with long pants and long sleeves

• Wear bug repellant to keep mosquitoes away

For information on mosquito prevention and West Nile Virus, visit www.cdc.gov/westnile. You may also visit us at https://www.gethealthycarsoncity.org/departments/environmental-health. Follow Carson City Health and Human Services on Twitter @CCHealthEd, “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cchhs, follow us on Instagram @gethealthycarsoncity, call us at 775-887-2190, or visit us at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City.