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Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Issued After Two Confirmed Escambia County West Nile Virus Cases
August 17, 2023
Two confirmed West Nile virus cases have been reported in Escambia County, prompting a mosquito-borne illness alert from the Florida Department of Health.
There was only a single case reported in Escambia County in 2022.
The DOH is reminding residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes, the health department said to remember to “Drain and Cover”:
Drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying.
- Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater 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 do not 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.
- Clothing - 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.
- Repellent - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
- Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, 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 screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
Tips on Repellent Use
- 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 (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are generally recommended. Other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents contain picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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. Again, always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Comments
3 Responses to “Mosquito Borne Illness Alert Issued After Two Confirmed Escambia County West Nile Virus Cases”
@Bob
I agree with… er, Bob.
Do people have a right to keep buckets of water around their backyard? Are people allowed to leave their pools stagnant? Sure.
But if it’s creating a situation that threatens the safety of their neighbors? It sounds like it’s time for code enforcement to step in.
@Bob call the environmental office / code enforcement and make a complaint. They will make them fix it. If it’s abandoned, they’ll put little fish in it to eat the larvae
When your neighbor has a filthy inground pool and the county can’t do anything about it. An exception should be made that the county can speak with the home owner and get them to clean their pool.