Though they do play a role in our ecosystem as a food source for birds, bats and some aquatic life, mosquitoes — the buzzing and biting insects — are hard to like, and with good reason.
Even the name (“mosquito” is Spanish for “little fly”) sounds pesky.
They can leave their human targets with an itchy, bothersome welt after the blood-sucking insects have pierced human skin.
But worse, they frequently act as carriers for diseases. West Nile Virus and Zika are two of the better-known.
Worldwide, and particularly in developing countries, mosquitoes are responsible for the deaths of more than a million people annually through the spread of illnesses including malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever.
In North Carolina, there are at least 60 types of mosquitoes and, according to information on N.C. Cooperative Extension’s website, “our state’s worst” is the Asian tiger mosquito.
Extension agent Charlotte Glen, in an article on the Extension website, says the Asian tiger, easily identified by its distinct white and black striped legs and body, “is of particular concern because it can spread diseases to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, as well as heartworms to dogs and cats.”
And it is found just about everywhere, in backyards, on farms, and in urban areas.
The most common North Carolina mosquito-borne illnesses are West Nile Virus (WNV), La Crosse Encephalitis (LACV), and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), said Anne Lowery, Environmental Health Director with the Chatham County Public Health Department, though they “are rarely reported” in Chatham County.
“EEE is more common in the eastern part of the state and LACV is more common in the western part of the state,” Lowery said. “However, our residents and visitors are still potentially at risk for contracting these illnesses in the county.”
There are, Lowery said, measures we can take to mitigate our exposure to them and to reduce their presence.
“The best way to prevent mosquito-borne illness,” said Lowery, “is to protect yourself from biting mosquitoes and to reduce mosquito breeding sites around your home.”
This means controlling water sources where mosquitoes breed. State health officials say the insects are prone to breed in all kinds of water, from small containers such as tree-holes and tin cans to large bodies of water like lakes or marshes. The breeding water may be fresh water or salty, polluted or clean, standing or slow-moving.
To reduce mosquito breeding areas around your home, the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services offers a few tips: Remove containers that can hold water — especially old tires — where mosquitoes may lay eggs; keep gutters clean and in good repair; fix leaky outdoor faucets and change the water in bird baths and pet bowls at least twice a week; use screened windows and doors and make sure screens fit tightly and are not torn to keep mosquitoes from entering households; and keep tight-fitting screens or lids on rain barrels.
The state public health agency also offers simple tips for protecting yourself from the biting insects: Reduce time spent outdoors, particularly during early morning and early evening hours when mosquitoes are most active; wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts; and apply EPA-approved mosquito repellents (public health officials recommend products containing DEET, 30 percent or less for adults and 10 percent or less for children, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Eucalyptus, and Para-Menthane-Diol) to exposed skin areas, following the product’s guidelines.
“Luckily, most people infected with EEE and WNV have no symptoms at all,” Lowery said, “however mild symptoms can range from fever, nausea, and rash to more severe symptoms including convulsions and other neurological effects. La Crosse Encephalitis symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and other neurological effects, especially in children under age 16, but LACV is rarely fatal. If someone experiences any of these symptoms after being around mosquitoes, they should consult with their medical provider as soon as possible.”
While Chatham County residents face fewer concerns about mosquitoes than in other parts of the state, and world, Lowery advises local residents to take responsible measures to protect themselves. And for those planning to travel, be aware of potential mosquito threats that may await, she said.
“It is very important,” said Lowery, “for residents to research mosquito borne illnesses and prevention when they travel to areas that have other diseases transmitted by mosquitos including Zika virus, Dengue, and Chikungunya.”
Randall Rigsbee can be reached at rigsbee@chathamnr.com.