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Dave Geske, mosquito control officer for the La Crosse County Health Department, said he has seen many hatches in the town of Campbell, Onalaska, the north side of La Crosse as well as the town of Shelby after the past two weeks’ heavy rainfall.
“We’re controlling the hatches in several areas, but in some places a lot of mosquitoes breed, and we can’t get to those areas,” Geske said. “It really depends on where you live if you’re seeing a lot of mosquitoes. If you live near water or the marsh, you’ll see some activity.
“It’s not that bad yet,” he said. “We didn’t have as many mosquitoes when we had that dry spell, but a lot of rain will bring out the mosquitoes. Flooded areas bring out tremendous hatches.”
Geske said he is seeing mosquitoes that carry the La Crosse strain of encephalitis and West Nile virus.
“I’m seeing those mosquitoes as early as ever,” he said. “Perhaps we’ll see cases early, I don’t know, but we need to pay attention to it early this summer.”
Last year only four La Crosse encephalitis cases, none in La Crosse County, were reported in western Wisconsin. Also in 2006, La Crosse County reported its first human West Nile virus case, a 70-year-old La Crosse man who had been hospitalized.
Geske also reported another human West Nile case last summer, a 70-year-old West Salem, Wis., man, but it was not counted as a case because he had no symptoms.
September is the peak month for West Nile and La Crosse encephalitis, Geske said.
Geske said the state reports the number of encephalitis cases has declined in a 17-county western Wisconsin region monitored by him and his staff.
“A good mosquito control program targeting habitat, endemic areas, and paying attention to tires, containers and ponding areas make a difference,” Geske said.
He said it’s never too early to remind people to make sure tires and open containers are not left outside to collect water.
“It’s also a pretty good idea to start using repellent,” Geske said.
How to help
Tips to eliminate breeding sites:
Source: La Crosse County Health Department Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com, or (608) 791-8227.
