WEST NILE VIRUS Expert gives advice on warding off mosquitoes

Cover exposed skin as much as possible when mosquitoes are active.
LISBON -- Downpours, it seems, help drown out mosquitoes.
Frequent, torrential rains in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys last spring and summer kept mosquito populations down, killing thousands of adult mosquitoes and making it difficult for mosquitoes to reproduce.
Ernie Oelker, agriculture extension agent for Columbiana County, explained that mosquitoes thrive in standing water, and in 2003 there was seldom a seven-day period where the water in a pond or puddle remained stagnant.
Oelker said, however, that Ohio Department of Health officials and veterinarians at the Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Extension warn that West Nile virus will continue to pose a health threat to humans, horses and birds this year and in the future.
Tips
Products containing N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) are known to keep mosquitoes from thriving, Oelker said. Products are available containing up to 25 percent DEET, and the stronger the product, the longer it will be effective, he said.
Oelker cautioned, however, that products containing more than 10 percent DEET should not be used on young children.
He said the best defense for children and adults is to cover exposed skin as much as possible when mosquitoes are known to be active.
Wear hats, long pants, shirts with long sleeves and collars, and apply the product containing DEET on clothing, including socks. Then, apply the pesticide directly on to the face, neck and hands, Oelker recommends.
Premises sprays
When planning backyard barbecues or other activities, premises sprays known as yard foggers are effective for a short period of time, Oelker said. Wind will carry the spray away from the area and can also bring mosquitoes into the area, so party planners should not expect premises sprays to work longer than a few hours, he said.
For home or business owners who have decorative ponds as part of landscaping, there are products available containing bacillus thuriengensis (BT) that is designed to protect small bodies of water from breeding mosquitoes, but without risk to pets, fish or other wildlife.
Horses are susceptible to West Nile virus and need to be vaccinated, he said. A round of vaccinations should be completed by this week, as should booster shots for horses previously vaccinated, Oelker said. To protect horses from mosquitoes, keep horses inside during the evening with the lights off, and use fans to keep mosquitoes away. Keep sparrows out of barns because sparrows carry the disease.
For more information, call Oelker at (330) 424-7291 or e-mail him at Oelker.2@osu.edu. West Nile virus fact sheets are also available at Columbiana.osu.edu