Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Remains In Effect For Escambia County

October 17, 2014

An mosquito-borne illness alert  for Escambia County is continuing, according to the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County said Thursday.

Back in August, the health department issued the alert after receiving notification of  a confirmed case of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in a resident of Escambia County.

The Escambia County Mosquito Control Division and the health department continue surveillance and prevention efforts.  FDOH-Escambia reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure to mosquito-borne illnesses.

Some mosquito tips include:

  • Remove standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying
  • Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
  • Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
  • Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
  • Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
  • Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
  • Cover skin with clothing or repellent—
  • Stay indoors when mosquitoes are active
  • Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
  • Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
  • Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET(N,N-diethyl-mtoluamide), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective.
  • Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.
  • Cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house
  • Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
  • Keep doors and windows closed if screens are not present.
  • Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent.
  • Some repellents are not suitable for children.
  • Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended.
  • Other US Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents contain Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. These products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look for active ingredients to be listed on the product label.
  • Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
  • In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is age-appropriate.
  • According to the CDC, mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. DEET is not recommended on children younger than two months old.
  • Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child’s skin and clothing.
  • If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing.

Comments

3 Responses to “Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Remains In Effect For Escambia County”

  1. Info on October 17th, 2014 2:23 pm

    For those that are interested, here’s a fact sheet on West Nile Virus:

    http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/resources/pdfs/wnvFactsheet_508.pdf

  2. Alicia on October 17th, 2014 10:55 am

    I use Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) and it works great! It can be found in Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus and Coleman Botanicals. They are all EPA registered, naturally based and DEET free.

  3. skeetergirl73 on October 17th, 2014 7:35 am

    Report non-functioning swimming pools to Code Enforcement! Wear repellent with DEET, use as directed.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News