Outbreaks of St. Louis encephalitis, caused by a virus called the St. Louis virus and spread via mosquito bites, can occur throughout most of the United States. The last major epidemic of St. Louis encephalitis occurred in the Midwest from 1974 to 1977. During that outbreak, more than 2,500 cases in 35 states were reported to the CDC. Currently, outbreaks of St. Louis encephalitis have been limited in size (usually less than 30 cases), although the potential still exists for an epidemic.

This is very difficult to determine. Currently there are different theories as to the level and amount of climate change. Some models predict large changes in rainfall patterns, while other predict small changes. We may expect with increases in rainfall there would be an increase in mosquito numbers and a subsequent increase in mosquito-borne diseases, however this may not be the case.

iI is a good idea to check one's body at the end of the day to make sure none have latched on. In frequent trips there, we have never encountered the ticks or heard of anyone who has contracted the disease BUT there are reported cases in the Altai. See www.mdtravelhealth.com for more info.

Although Maine has not yet experienced its first case of human WNV or EEE infection, it's only a matter of time before such a case occurs. It's likely that the risk of seeing human infections will continue for many years to come. During the past few years, municipal officials have increasingly been called upon to respond to concerns regarding WNV and EEE prevention and control.

Food borne disease is commonly known as food poisoning and can occur when food is not handled correctly. These are illnesses transmitted by food or water, caused by very small numbers of bacteria. Foodborne infection can be severe and in some cases, fatal. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

NO! HIV can not be gotten from mosquitoes, Mosquitoes does not drop or inject anything other than the saliva that helps in lubrication. Thus, it is not true that mosquitoes can carry infected blood from an infected person to another person, once a mosquito feeds it does not regurgitate. . REF: HOW AIDS CAN BE TRANSMITTED There is a possibility of becoming infected with HIV if you share injecting equipment with someone who has the virus.

Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. When the brain becomes inflamed-swollen and irritated-normal blood flow to the brain is altered, leading to symptoms such as confusion, fever, and severe headache. Encephalitis is rare.

Local mosquitoes control programs and laboratories throughout the state have developed several monitoring techniques to determine the presence of Saint Louis and eastern encephalitis The mosquitoes, which carry encephalitis primarily, feed on birds. One method of monitoring these viruses is by using caged chickens strategically located throughout the country. A small blood sample from each chicken is taken periodically and tested for antibodies to Saint Louis or eastern encephalitis.

No. Not all TBDs are responsive to doxycycline, so you may be giving a medication that will not help at all. Starting doxycycline while waiting for results of tick titers may be warranted in a sick dog with signs (symptoms) compatible with TBD, but it should not be used instead of testing. For more information, please read the following article:

In naturally occurring ponds where there are frogs, minnows, and dragonflies there is no need to put a larvicide in the water since these animals are natural predators of mosquitoes and keep the mosquito population low.

Apply repellent when you are going to be outdoors. Even if you don’t notice mosquitoes there is a good chance that they are around. Many of the mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus bite between dusk and dawn. If you are outdoors around these times of the day, it is especially important to apply repellent. In many parts of the country, there are mosquitoes that also bite during the day, and some of these mosquitoes have also been found to carry West Nile virus.

CDC recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing. When EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment.

Prevention of mosquito bites can be achieved either through undertaking active mosquito control or by the use of personal protective measures. A variety of active mosquito control measures are available, including habitat modification in order to reduce water availability for breeding of the larval stage, through to the use of appropriate insecticides for controlling the larval or adult stage.

This varies with the mosquito species and the time of the year. Some species may only live for less than a week, while others can live for several months over the winter months. (BACK)

A mosquito is a common name for any of about 2000 species of two-winged insects. They are found from the tropics to the Arctic Circle and from lowlands to the peaks of high mountains. Mosquitoes have long, slender wings and are unusual among flies in having small scales over most of the wing veins. The body is narrow. The long antennae have numerous whorls of hair, short in the female and long and bushy in the male.

Female mosquitoes bite people and animals because they need the protein found in blood to help develop their eggs. Mosquitoes are attracted to people by skin odors and carbon dioxide from breath. Many repellents contain a chemical, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), which repels the mosquito, making the person unattractive for feeding. DEET does not kill mosquitoes; it just makes them unable to locate us.

The most effective repellents contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), which is an ingredient used to repel pests like mosquitoes and ticks. DEET has been tested against a variety of biting insects and has been shown to be very effective. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better-just that it will last longer.