Time again to 'Fight the Bite'

Dear editor:

With the approaching Fourth of July Holiday, I am reminded of a lady who was diagnosed with a severe case of West Nile Virus. She survived and after months of rehabilitation reported an ill-fated mosquito bite that happened at a family, holiday back yard barbecue in Mountain Home.

The Elmore County Pest Abatement Board, along with the Elmore County Commissioners have developed a comprehensive plan to help with controlling the mosquito population, particularly the pests that carry the West Nile Virus.

Mir Seyedbagheri, Professor for the University of Idaho and Elmore County Extension Director, has provided extensive research and planning for our protection.

Our ECPAD 2010 plan includes:

Understanding that control of the mosquito population and the WNV is a countywide responsibility that involves both municipal and property owners' time and vigilance.

Developing a countywide WATCH Program to eliminate standing water. This step alone will hugely impact the female mosquito's ability to reproduce. Standing still water on your property means you could be raising mosquitoes. For this purpose, the definition of standing water is still water remaining for three days.

Educate our public to report problem areas ("increased pest activity or standing water") to our hotline number: 1-866-884-2891.

This WATCH program includes monitoring birdbaths, pet water dishes, horse troughs and decorative ponds, tire swings, flowerpot decorations at gravesites and STANDING STILL water ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE. All that is needed is to toss out the old water and examine it for larvae. If the numbers are HUGE call the hot line immediately to report it and/or to ask for advice on how to add treatment pellets to your decorative pond or trough to kill the mosquito larvae and keep fish, flowers and animals safe! Our County extension office has mosquito dunks free of charge to treat water ponds or fountains.

Increased awareness of "Peak Mosquito Hours." The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning -- or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.

Use Insect Repellent

on exposed skin when you go outdoors. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Even a short time being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite.

Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites. As weather permits, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.

Educate everyone to help keep their grass cut short and do not over-water.

Install or repair screens since some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows and doors. Offer to help neighbors whose screens might be in bad shape.

Understand our farmers and ranchers need our help. Leaking irrigation pipes and pumps need to be reported and fixed. We should not assume they know about the problem of standing water.

Remember our BEST defense is to kill them BEFORE they fly. We need everyone's help to WATCH and REPORT the locations of concern.

We have available excellent, educational programs for all clubs and civic meetings or youth programs that are interested in a 30-minute in-service regarding WNV and our Elmore County Mosquito Abatement Program. Call 587-2136 ext. 509 for details.

Last year, on June 20, our Mosquito Abatement Task Force killed over ONE TRILLION mosquito larva in one standing waterhole in Hammett! This one action prevented millions of bites.

When dealing with West Nile virus, prevention is your best bet. Fighting mosquito bites reduces your risk of getting this disease, along with others that mosquitoes can carry. Take the commonsense steps below to reduce your risk:

Clean out the mosquitoes from the places where you work and play.

Help our community control the disease by using the hotline for reporting standing water and increased mosquito activity.

Remember: The chance that someone is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low. CDC reports the risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old. Use protective clothing and insect repellent as a proven defense.

Cut this out and place near your phone:

Toll free HOT LINE for Mosquito Control in Elmore County is 1-866-884-2891.

Marsha Sellers R.N.

President of the ECPAD