Mosquito-borne Disease in Florida

1 What is an arbovirus?Arboviruses are viruses spread to people by insect or tickbites. In Florida , we find West Nile virus (WNV), EasternEquine Encephalitis virus (EEEV), and St. Louis Encephalitisvirus (SLEV). These viruses are spread by mosquitoes andcan cause serious illnesses in arboviral illnesses commonin Florida ?Over the years, SLEV had been the most common cause ofarboviral Disease in Florida until the arrival of WNV in2001. West Nile virus infection is now the most commonhuman arboviral Disease acquired in the state. More than200 people have gotten seriously ill during outbreaks ofWNV and SLEV Disease . Such outbreaks do not occurevery year. Usually, no more than five people a year arefound with EEEV Disease in do people become infectedwith arboviruses?An infected mosquito spreads viruses through its bite. Thevirus mainly passes back and forth between birds andmosquitoes. Sometimes an infected mosquito will bite aperson or a horse instead of a bird.

2 People cannot catch anarbovirus from casual contact with an infected are the symptoms of arboviral illness?Most people infected with an arbovirus do not even get the small number who do become ill, it can take two to 14days after the bite of an infected mosquito before theybecome sick. Symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness,dizziness, and confusion. WNV may also cause a rash or muscleweakness. People 50 years old and older are more likely tohave brain swelling from SLEV or WNV infections but this canoccur in younger people too. Anyone infected with EEEV mayalso develop brain swelling, but children develop illness mostcommonly. Severe infections with any of the arboviruses can befatal. A person who thinks they may have an arbovirus infectionshould see a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor may orderlaboratory testing to see if an arbovirus caused the there is no cure for arboviruses, there is treatmentfor some of the symptoms.

3 What do we do to limit the spread ofmosquito- borne illness?Animals and mosquitoes are watched closely for signs ofarbovirus. Chicken flocks called sentinel chickens are kept inmany counties. Blood from the chickens is tested to look forsigns of arboviruses. If arbovirus activity is increased andmosquitoes are biting, mosquito control efforts will generallyincrease. Press releases and public education will remindpeople to protect themselves from mosquito about other animals?Horses can also become ill from EEEV and WNV. Sick horsesare sometimes the first sign that an arbovirus is in an birds are another clue that WNV may be report dead birds at , or contactyour county health department or local Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) office. Avoidhandling sick or dead animals with bare can I do to protect my family andmyself from Mosquito-borne Disease ?The best way to reduce the risk of getting ill is to avoid gettingmosquito bites by practicing the Drain and Cover preventionmessage andCOVERDRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplyingnDrain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, poolcovers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containerswhere sprinkler or rain water has old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans,broken appliances and other items that aren't being and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at leastonce or twice a boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don taccumulate swimming pools and keep appropriatelychlorinated.

4 Empty plastic swimming pools when not in skin with clothing or repellentnCLOTHING Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves. This type of protection may be necessary for peoplewho must work in areas where mosquitoes are Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin use repellents according to the label. Repellents withDEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2months doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoesout of your housenRepair broken screening on windows, doors, porches, andpatios. To report pesticide-related illness or injury, call Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Bureau of EpidemiologyFor more information,visit our website at may also call 850-245-4401 during office Disease in FloridaSLEV, EEEV, WNV Transmission Cyclewild birdshorses: EEEV, WNVhumans:SLEV, EEEV, WNVmosquitoThe best way to prevent Mosquito-borne Disease is to avoid mosquito bites.

5 By following the mosquitohygiene checklist and the Drain and Cover prevention, you can help protect yourself and your familyfrom Mosquito-borne the wrigglers lose the larvaeMosquitoes lay their eggs where there is moisture. It takes only a few days for an egg to grow into an adult mosquito , whichcan live for several weeks. During that time, an adult female mosquito can lay many eggs. In order to produce eggs, the adultfemale seeks a host (such as a bird, a horse, or a human) to provide a blood meal. Some species of adult mosquitoes can flytwo miles from their breeding sites (even further if blown by the wind). Elimination of mosquito breeding sites is one of thekeys to standing water in old tires, buckets, garbage cans or any other out gutters. Check flat roofs that may have poor barrels and trash containers tightly with a lid or with a fine mesh screening plastic wading pools at least once a week. Store them indoors when not in the water in bird baths and pets water bowls at least once a the water in plant pots at least once a over or remove empty plastic old tires or drill holes in those used in playgrounds to the ground around your home so water can run in holes or depressions near your home that collect up all beverage containers and boats covered or upside tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect out bilges on standing water with products that kill mosquito larvae.

6 These are available at home improvement stores andgarden in tree holes and hollow stumps that hold your water garden with mosquito -eating fish like minnows, gambusia, goldfish or vegetation or blockages in drainage ditches so that water can flow screening on windows, doors, porches and word about Zappers Some gadgets intended to work as mosquito control methods do not do a very good job. For example, bug zappers do notwork well to control biting mosquitoes. They may actually attract more mosquitoes into your yard, and they kill beneficialinsects as well. Various birds and bats will eat mosquitoes, but there is little evidence that this cuts down on the number ofmosquitoes around homes. Electronic mosquito devices don t stop mosquitoes from biting people informationnAlways read label directions carefully for the approved usage before applying a repellent to skin. Some repellents are notsuitable for with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended.

7 Other EPA-approved repellentscontain picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. These products are generally available at local pharmacies. Look foractive ingredients to be listed on the product label. nApply insect repellent to exposed skin or onto clothing, but not under protecting children, read label instructions and be sure the repellent is age-appropriate. According to the CDC, mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of 3 years. DEET isnot recommended on children younger than 2 months old. nInfants should be kept indoors or mosquito netting should be used over carriers when mosquitoes are present. nIf additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to your clothing (but not your skin). Again,always follow the manufacturer's directions. For more information, see the CDC's guidelines: orEPA guidelines: Proofing Your Home3-15To report pesticide-related illness or injury, call Department of Health, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Bureau of EpidemiologyFor more information,visit our website at may also call 850-245-4401 during office hours.