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Protect against West Nile
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
With an increase of West Nile virus cases in the Tucson area, Cochise County health officials are warning residents to be on alert.
Alex Heth, the Cochise County environmental health director, said the end of the monsoon doesn't mean mosquito season is over.
West Nile virus is spread to humans and animals through mosquito bites. According to the Center for Disease Control, when a mosquito bites a bird carrying the virus, the mosquito becomes infected.
Health officials said the virus cannot be spread through human-to-human contact or human-to-mammal contact.
Heth said residents in Cochise County must start taking action now instead of waiting for the issue to become a problem.
"Pima County officials have referred to certain areas in Tucson as hot spots (breeding grounds for mosquitoes)," Heth said. "Despite the recent cases reported in our county, we have not had any mosquito tests show up positive. They are a mobile insect. We do not have any geographical hot spots."
To keep it that way, Heth said it's up to residents to prevent breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
First, Heth said, to protect yourself apply insect repellent to exposed skin. When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, place mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors, consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening, and install and repair window and door screens so mosquitoes can't get indoors.
In order to reduce the number of mosquitoes breeding around a home, Heth said residents should empty water from flowerpots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels and cans at least once or twice a week.
Heth said residents should also remove discarded tires and any other items on the property that could collect water.
Health officials warn that a mosquito needs as little as a drop of water to lay eggs.
Other standing water such as ponds, can be treated with mosquito repellant.
Besides getting rid of all standing water, health officials also say a warning sign is finding freshly dead adult birds that have not died from trauma.
If a bird is found, contact the local health department at 586-3686.
While Cochise County hasn't had any major outbreaks of the virus, there have been confirmed cases.
Two human cases were reported several weeks ago in Douglas, a horse with the virus died in J-Six, and two other horses have become infected in the county.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
With an increase of West Nile virus cases in the Tucson area, Cochise County health officials are warning residents to be on alert.
Alex Heth, the Cochise County environmental health director, said the end of the monsoon doesn't mean mosquito season is over.
West Nile virus is spread to humans and animals through mosquito bites. According to the Center for Disease Control, when a mosquito bites a bird carrying the virus, the mosquito becomes infected.
Health officials said the virus cannot be spread through human-to-human contact or human-to-mammal contact.
Heth said residents in Cochise County must start taking action now instead of waiting for the issue to become a problem.
"Pima County officials have referred to certain areas in Tucson as hot spots (breeding grounds for mosquitoes)," Heth said. "Despite the recent cases reported in our county, we have not had any mosquito tests show up positive. They are a mobile insect. We do not have any geographical hot spots."
To keep it that way, Heth said it's up to residents to prevent breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
First, Heth said, to protect yourself apply insect repellent to exposed skin. When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, place mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors, consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening, and install and repair window and door screens so mosquitoes can't get indoors.
In order to reduce the number of mosquitoes breeding around a home, Heth said residents should empty water from flowerpots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels and cans at least once or twice a week.
Heth said residents should also remove discarded tires and any other items on the property that could collect water.
Health officials warn that a mosquito needs as little as a drop of water to lay eggs.
Other standing water such as ponds, can be treated with mosquito repellant.
Besides getting rid of all standing water, health officials also say a warning sign is finding freshly dead adult birds that have not died from trauma.
If a bird is found, contact the local health department at 586-3686.
While Cochise County hasn't had any major outbreaks of the virus, there have been confirmed cases.
Two human cases were reported several weeks ago in Douglas, a horse with the virus died in J-Six, and two other horses have become infected in the county.
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