It came as a huge shock to the health department in New York in August 1999, that they were facing an epidemic of West Nile Virus in the capital city of the United States. This is not remarkable, because it was the first time that WNV had been encountered in the USA.
In fact, it was such a shock that scientists first thought the outbreak to be St Louis Encephalitis or even a terrorist attack of some form using disease.
However, they soon spotted it as WNF and placed the blame on the mosquito population of the area. That was in 1999 and every year since, the threat of the infection raises its head again.
WNV can kill, but it is not apt to, particularly if one is aware of the threat and the symptoms and seeks help as soon as possible.
There are a number of mosquitoes that can spread this infection, but the main one is almost certainly Culex pipiens molestus, which is probably a new variant of the pipiens mosquito which was thought to only attack birds.
Pipiens is now chiefly responsible for St. Louis Encephalitis and West Nile Virus in humans; Western Equine Encephalitis (in horses); Heartworm in dogs and bird malaria.
Despite this impressive list of illnesses, it is commonly referred to as 'the house mosquito', which appears to make light of the danger that it can carry. No one knows why it changed its habits from only birds to include man, horses and dogs.
It is thought that C. pipiens fist bites an infected bird and then bites a mammalian host, where the bird's virus mutates itself into something that can infect its new host. In this light, pipiens can be seen as a link between birds and mammals.
C. pipiens is the most prevalent mosquito in north-eastern cities in the USA and wherever it is, you can guarantee that stagnant water is not far away. Not that it has to be a lot. A single female can lay 400 eggs in a half inch of water in one day.
Therefore, if you want to reduce your chances of being bitten by this (or any) mosquito, demolish their breeding grounds near your house. These include, but are not limited to: tin cans, buckets, old tyres, untended bird baths, clogged rain gutters, plastic wading pools, storm drains and catch basins, septic tanks and other foul water sources above or below ground.
If you have a water feature in your garden, populate it with guppies or goldfish, because these fish are known to like eating mosquito larvae. At the end of the year, spray your tool shed, garage and cellar, because they will hibernate to escape dying in the frost if they can find somewhere suitable
In fact, the last generation of adult females mate and build body fat by feeding on carbohydrates before finding somewhere to lie dormant. Their body metabolism slows significantly and winter is spent in a state of virtual sleep. Females that survive the winter take a blood meal in the spring and lay eggs that start the summer populations.
In fact, it was such a shock that scientists first thought the outbreak to be St Louis Encephalitis or even a terrorist attack of some form using disease.
However, they soon spotted it as WNF and placed the blame on the mosquito population of the area. That was in 1999 and every year since, the threat of the infection raises its head again.
WNV can kill, but it is not apt to, particularly if one is aware of the threat and the symptoms and seeks help as soon as possible.
There are a number of mosquitoes that can spread this infection, but the main one is almost certainly Culex pipiens molestus, which is probably a new variant of the pipiens mosquito which was thought to only attack birds.
Pipiens is now chiefly responsible for St. Louis Encephalitis and West Nile Virus in humans; Western Equine Encephalitis (in horses); Heartworm in dogs and bird malaria.
Despite this impressive list of illnesses, it is commonly referred to as 'the house mosquito', which appears to make light of the danger that it can carry. No one knows why it changed its habits from only birds to include man, horses and dogs.
It is thought that C. pipiens fist bites an infected bird and then bites a mammalian host, where the bird's virus mutates itself into something that can infect its new host. In this light, pipiens can be seen as a link between birds and mammals.
C. pipiens is the most prevalent mosquito in north-eastern cities in the USA and wherever it is, you can guarantee that stagnant water is not far away. Not that it has to be a lot. A single female can lay 400 eggs in a half inch of water in one day.
Therefore, if you want to reduce your chances of being bitten by this (or any) mosquito, demolish their breeding grounds near your house. These include, but are not limited to: tin cans, buckets, old tyres, untended bird baths, clogged rain gutters, plastic wading pools, storm drains and catch basins, septic tanks and other foul water sources above or below ground.
If you have a water feature in your garden, populate it with guppies or goldfish, because these fish are known to like eating mosquito larvae. At the end of the year, spray your tool shed, garage and cellar, because they will hibernate to escape dying in the frost if they can find somewhere suitable
In fact, the last generation of adult females mate and build body fat by feeding on carbohydrates before finding somewhere to lie dormant. Their body metabolism slows significantly and winter is spent in a state of virtual sleep. Females that survive the winter take a blood meal in the spring and lay eggs that start the summer populations.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on more than a few topics, but is currently involved with how to stop mosquito bite itch. If you want to know more, please go to our web site at Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites.
