West Nile in Virginia West Nile in Virginia first appeared on Backyard Bug Patrol It’s that time of year again – the [West Nile Virus] is starting to make itself known. Mosquitoes are more than a pest. Sure, the itchy bug bites are annoying, but the real danger comes from the diseases they carry. West Nile Virus came to the US in 1999, and has been spreading ever since. Generally, West Nile Virus hits the bird population harder than it does people. But the more birds have it the bigger a danger it is to us. According to Michael J. Raupp, professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, “When we have a lot of infected birds out there, and then we have high populations of mosquitoes that can transfer [West Nile Virus] from the bird population to the human population, that sets up a recipe for trouble”. In 2010, just a few short years ago, 10% of the cases of West Nile Virus in the United States occurred in Virginia, Maryland and DC. In 2002 ten people from those areas died from contracting West Nile Virus. In 2010, the CDC estimates that there were over 1.5 million people infected with the it, but the disease is very under-reported due to its similarity to other viral infections like the flu. It can include headaches, fever, and fatigue, with aches or a rash. Similar to the “flu”. it can last a few days or a few weeks. In some cases it can be fatal, especially in the very young or old, or those who already have a compromised immune system. Take precautions when outside, especially at dawn and dusk, and wear long sleeve shirts and long pants. Use a bug spray. Better yet, call us to come in and barrier spray your yard. And most of all, make sure your kids are protected.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 06:14:31 +0000
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