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West Nile Virus, a
potentially deadly disease reached our shores almost ten years ago
and seems like it is here to stay. Similarly to rabies virus which
was also almost absent in Connecticut about 20 years ago, we have
taken steps in public health to reduce the risk from these diseases.
With rabies we have increased the use of rabies vaccinations and the
Animal Shelter helps organize an inexpensive rabies clinic every
year (937-3642). By making sure your animals are protected they can
then act as a buffer to keep any risk from wildlife to a minimum.
Please be sure to keep your animals up to date on their vaccinations
and we also ask that you do not leave food outdoors for your
animals, strays or wildlife, this is an invitation to danger!
Although West Nile is not nearly as deadly as rabies it is another
virus that can cause human harm, and that we do have good ways to
prevent exposure. Since this disease is carried by mosquitoes,
especially those who like to breed in standing waters around
people’s homes, that is the first place to start. If you have a pool
that you no longer plan to use it would be best to have it removed.
If it is out of season it should remain fully covered until you open
it up and get it running with the proper chemicals and filtration.
Clogged gutters on your roof are another very likely place for water
to accumulate and in a week, thousands of mosquito eggs could hatch
put and infest your yard from just one foot or two of water backing
up in a gutter. Any standing water that remains for at least a
week, and that does not contain fish or frogs (they specialize in
eating mosquito larvae), can become a breeding site. We do spend a
substantial amount of tax dollars using a biological method of
mosquito control to reduce their population all over town. We use a
bacterial method, (much like a cat against a mouse), in all 3,500
storm drains in town and in the most traveled areas near wetlands
where mosquitoes breed, and we do this several times over the summer
season. Usually, no one notices our work, and we never seem to “win
the war” against these pests, but we certainly reduce their numbers
severely. Beyond this, we have many educational pamphlets and can
only recommend a proper response if the mosquitoes are out: go
inside, cover up with longs sleeves, or get the repellent and follow
the directions on the label! Of all the people who have contracted
West Nile encephalitis in Connecticut, all loved spending time
outdoors but none had used protection or a repellent. |
