The Fight Against Mosquitoes Around The Globe
Winnipeg has long been Canada’s mosquito capital, but Edmonton is challenging it this year. These days, mosquito traps in Edmonton are catching five times more mosquitoes that those in Winnipeg. Rainy spells followed by warm weather are responsible for the colossal rise in the number of these maddening insects.
Residents of Edmonton are calling for a large rise in the budget to combat the mosquito population which can carry West Nile Virus. West Nile Virus delivers indications comparable to a severe bout of flu, although older and younger victims have died from epidemics. County health officials are thinking about spraying public fields before official public holidays to reduce the incidence of biting.
On the other side of the world, in Sidney, Australia, the parks department has also begun its anti-mosquito spraying plan and inhabitants are invited to call in to become added to a ‘no spray’ list, if they are afraid of the toxicity of the insect spray. It is thought that most individuals will prefer having their block and backyard sprayed as the numbers of mosquitoes are rising there as well.
However, the spraying program has always proved a success in the past and will like continue to be so. This year it will be supplemented by poisoning ponds and lakes with larvacide, which is a more helpful form of control adding fish to the ponds that consume mosquito larvae would be an even better manner. The tablets are known as Altosid and last for 30 days, although they are also considering using XR which works for 150 days.
West Nile Virus is also a difficulty in Sidney, although there have not been any recorded cases yet. This means nothing though as most individuals who get WNF think that they have a summer cold. The city health authorities say that they are continuing to trap mosquitoes and carry out autopsies on dead birds to get an early notification of a likely WNV epidemic.
The city health division is warning all those over 50 years of age and those with a weakened immune system to take extra care by applying a repellent including DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil on bare skin and by wearing long trousers and long-sleeved shirts at dusk and at dawn.
They are also recommending doing basic maintenance and repairs about the home and garden. In particular, fly screens ought to be repaired and all stagnant water should be drained. They advise drilling holes in any old tyres and containers that can hold water, because mosquitoes just need a half inch of water to breed.
In the meantime, in the States, anti-mosquito action is also being pursued. It appears that wherever you go in the world, the local authorities are trying to do something about the number of mosquitoes. Do they know something that we don’t?
Like in Sidney and Edmonton, they too are worried about the Developed world Nile Infection which seems to have crowd running scared all more than the world.
In Jacksonville, they are also recommending that people remove the mosquito’s breeding grounds from gardens and rubbish ground by up-turning any container that could hold water after rainfall. They also recommend unblocking drains and gutters.
They warn about keeping your animals safe from Eastern Equine Encephalitis during dawn and dusk and keeping yourself safe by wearing long clothing at dawn and dusk. Finally, they say to put DEET on all bare areas of skin.
Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on more than a few topics, but is currently involved with finding natural remedies for mosquito bites. If you want to know more, please go to our website at Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites.