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“The timing is not good,” said Dave Geske, La Crosse County mosquito control officer. “It’s prime time for both disease-carrying mosquitoes, and anything that can hold water is holding water.”
Geske said his staff had treated many areas with bacterial larvicide to kill developing mosquitoes, but that treatment was flushed away by last week’s flooding in some areas. A lot of mosquito trap lines also were washed away, he said.
The large amount of mosquito hatches could mean more cases of La Crosse encephalitis.
“We don’t normally see these mosquitoes in high water, but we’re seeing them,” Geske said.
And the risk could grow as water levels drop, as the mosquitoes that carry encephalitis and West Nile prefer to breed in small pools and ponds with organic material, Geske said.
The culex mosquito, which carries the West Nile virus, also likes storm sewers for breeding and waits for flooding to recede, Geske said.
He and his staff have been mapping culex sites in the area and applying larvicide in several counties in the region.
Health officials in Rushford, Minn., called him in Wednesday.
“People in Rushford complained about bees biting them, but mosquitoes will be an added problem,” Geske said. “We’re treating all containers with water that we see.”
He suggested people watch for any outside container that can hold water and use mosquito repellent when outdoors.
Geske said no encephalitis or West Nile cases have been reported in the La Crosse area this year, but September is the peak month for both diseases.
Nationwide, 741 West Nile cases and 21 deaths had been reported through Tuesday. Wisconsin has one confirmed human case this year.
REDUCING THE RISK OF ENCEPHALITIS AND WEST NILE
nPrevent mosquito bites by wearing long pants, long-sleeve shirts and socks, and using an insect repellent containing DEET.
nEliminate standing water on your property.
nRemove discarded tires that could hold water.
nDispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic posts or similar water-holding containers left outside.
nEnsure roof rain gutters drain properly.
nContact your local public health department if you have concerns about potential mosquito-breeding habitat in your community.
Source: La Crosse County Health Department
