Mosquitoes suck, don’t let the bites get you down

The Chickasaw Nation has initiated a mosquito surveillance program with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Surveillance traps have been placed on the reservation to catch and test mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus.

“We will set up mosquito traps in every county of the Chikado Nation to collect mosquitoes and send them for analysis to see if any of them are carrying West Nile virus,” said Mason Emert, an epidemiologist for the Chikado Nation.

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States, with nearly 47 states reporting human cases, according to the CDC. It is most prevalent during mosquito season, which begins in summer and lasts into fall.

West Nile virus circulates in the environment between mosquitoes and birds. The mosquito, most often a Culex species, must first feed on an infected bird before it can transmit the virus to humans when it bites them.

There is no documented evidence that West Nile virus spreads from person to person or from animal to person. In a very small number of cases, the virus has been spread through organ transplants, blood transfusions, and from mother to child (pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding).

The traps will be collected and sent to the CDC for analysis.

“This will allow us to inform the public about health risks, identify potential diseases like West Nile virus, and work with these communities to develop a mitigation plan and educate people so they can take greater precautions, especially those who are at higher risk for West Nile virus,” Emert said.

Serious illness can occur in people of any age. However, people over age 50 and some immunocompromised people, such as transplant patients, are most at risk of severe illness after infection with West Nile virus.

Photo provided

Mason Emmert sets up a mosquito trap so the Chickasaw Nation Public Health Department and CNO Environmental Services can monitor what mosquitoes are in the area.

According to Emert, while most cases of West Nile virus infection are asymptomatic, some people are more at risk than others.

“For them (West Nile disease), the diagnosis doesn’t always occur until they have encephalitis or the disease is advanced, but people who are immunocompromised, younger or have underlying health conditions are certainly at higher risk.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 80% of people infected with West Nile virus do not show any symptoms. For some, this can lead to West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease.

About 20% of people who get West Nile virus will get West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting, sometimes a skin rash on the upper body or trunk, and swollen lymph nodes.

Symptoms of severe disease, such as West Nile encephalitis or meningitis, include headache, high fever, stiff neck, stupor, confusion, coma, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness, and paralysis. About 1 in 150 people infected with West Nile virus will develop more severe disease.

Fixing water leaks, removing standing water, and cleaning birdbaths are just some of the steps you can take to protect your family from mosquitoes around your home.

Rikki LaRoche, director of public health for the Chickasaw Nation, says they will be strategic about placing traps.

“The traps will be placed in low-lying areas where there is standing water, where mosquitoes breed,” LaRoche said.

She also appealed not to interfere with the surveillance program.

“If you see something like this, just refrain from touching it,” LaRoche said. “It’s a test program.”

There are no vaccines or medications to prevent or treat West Nile disease in humans, so the best approach is to reduce your risk of contracting the disease by avoiding mosquito bites.

The best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites is to wear loose, long shirts and pants and to treat your clothes and gear properly. The CDC recommends using an EPA-registered insect repellent with one of the following active ingredients:

• DEET
• Picaridin (known outside the United States as KBR 3023 and picaridin)
• IR3535
• Lemon Eucalyptus Oil (OLE) – a plant-based ingredient
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone – a plant-based ingredient

EPA-registered insect repellents are safe and effective when used as directed, even by pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Photo provided

The CNO Department of Public Health and the CNO Environmental Protection Service are working closely together to establish a mosquito monitoring program.

Emert also recommends checking the area around your home to make sure there are no potential mosquito breeding grounds.

“Make sure there are no places around your house where water can collect and mosquitoes can breed,” Emert said. “Old tires, playground equipment or just things that can collect water outside, make sure they’re drained and use a larvicide in places where there’s standing water.”

The CDC recommends emptying and scrubbing, inverting, covering, or throwing away items that collect water, such as tires, buckets, toys, swimming pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or garbage cans.

LaRoche says there are also potential natural methods of control.

“There are many plants you can plant in your garden, around porches and in outdoor seating areas that can help repel mosquitoes,” LaRoche says.

LaRoche suggested oregano, peppermint, rosemary and lemongrass. Other plants often suggested as helpful in repelling mosquitoes include lavender, marigolds, basil and catnip.

Emert said if any of the mosquitoes caught test positive for West Nile virus, that information will be released to the public.

You can also check the Choctaw Nation Fight the Bite website to stay up to date on new events and get tips on how to prevent mosquito and tick bites.