Culex mosquitoes, which carry the West Nile virus, were flooded out of their homes in storm sewers Thursday during the downpour in the La Crosse area.

That’s good news for Dave Geske, La Crosse County Health Department mosquito control officer. But the heavy rain also will leave standing water in containers, perfect breeding places for mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and La Crosse encephalitis.
“It’s a double-edge sword, but usually heavy rain is a good thing for mosquitoes and not so good for us,” Geske said. “We’ll have to see what happens in the next 10 to 12 days as the water in containers are drawing down.”

Geske said it is critical time of the year to make sure tires and open containers are not left outside to collect water.

He said he is worried because most of the La Crosse encephalitis cases have occurred the last two weeks in August and the first three weeks of September during the past 15 years. It’s also prime time for West Nile cases.

“This is when we need to clean up our yards and check to make sure nothing can hold water,” Geske said. “You’re asking for trouble if you have standing water around.”

Only one La Crosse encephalitis case has been reported so far this summer. In July, initial tests were positive for a 13-year-old from Gays Mills, Wis., who was very sick and hospitalized. Final test results are still not back, Geske said. The La Crosse area has averaged five to six encephalitis cases annually for the past several years.

This summer a 70-year-old West Salem, Wis., man was the first human case of West Nile virus in the La Crosse area since the virus was confirmed in Wisconsin in 2001. But the man did not count as Wisconsin’s first case of 2006 because he had no symptoms. The virus was detected after he gave blood.

Skeeter top 10

In 29 years of mosquito control in

La Crosse County, Dave Geske has identified hot spots for La Crosse encephalitis-carrying mosquitoes, and for culex mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. Geske’s top 10 hot spots for disease-carrying mosquitoes in the La Crosse area:

Town of Shelby

West Salem

Viroqua area

De Soto

Houston County, especially Hokah, La Crescent and Caledonia

Winona and Whitewater State Park

Dakota and Nodine, Minn.

Steuben-Wauzeka area in Crawford County

Onalaska

Boscobel

Risk reduction

Eliminate breeding sites by removing objects in which water can collect.

Replace water in bird baths and fountains at least twice a week.

Drain dishes under flowerpots every few days and after rainstorms.

Cover outdoor trash and recycling cans with tight-fitting lids.

Clean up leaves and yard debris from low-lying areas to reduce stagnant pools.

Store wheelbarrows, tubs, wading pools and boats upside down or under cover when not in use.

Plastic and canvas tarps, commonly used to cover log piles, boats and pools, can hold enough water to breed mosquitoes.

Source: La Crosse County Health Department

Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com, or (608) 791-8227.

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