Beat the bite: stay in or cover up

As of Aug. 20, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals was confirming 20 human cases of West Nile virus. This information, combined with recent West Nile virus positive mosquitoes and sentinel chickens, raises concerns about public awareness and individual efforts to avoid mosquitoes whenever possible.
Residents and business owners of St. Martin Parish are being asked to take the necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites and drain any standing water on their property.
Health officials characterize West Nile infections three ways:
•Neuroinvasive disease – A Neuroinvasive disease illness is caused by West Nile virus attacking the brain or spinal cord. In older individuals with weakened immune systems, it can be very severe and could result in brain damage, paralysis or even death.
•West Nile fever – West Nile fever is less severe, with most people only suffering mild, flu-like symptoms.
•Asymptomatic symptoms – Asymptomatic individuals were never ill and only discovered to have the West Nile virus in their blood when some type of blood work was performed such as a blood donation.
About 90 percent of all cases are asymptomatic, while about 10 percent will develop West Nile fever. Only a very small number, (1 in 150) of infected individuals will show the serious symptoms associated with the neuroinvasive form of West Nile virus.
Residents who are 65 years old and older and individuals with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for complications, but anyone at any age can be at risk for infection.
The easiest way to avoid mosquitoes is to avoid being outside during their peak activity times of dusk and dawn. If you will be outside, wear a mosquito repellent containing N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or DEET. Note that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that repellents to be used on children should contain no more than 30 percent DEET, and that repellents are not recommended at all for children younger than 2 months.
Other suggestions include wearing light-colored, long-sleeve shirts and long pants when outdoors during the biting hours. Also avoid perfumes and colognes.
You can help reduce mosquito populations by eliminating standing water around your home or business.
For more tips and information, got to www.cajunmosquitocontrol.com.