News

 Photo of Culex corornator by Katie Heggemeier

Culex coronator found in Lee County

On May 23rd, Tom Miller collected a Culex coronator in a CDC light trap. The trap was set in North Fort Myers. Tom immediately recognized the mosquito was not a Culex mosquito common to Lee County. He showed the specimen to Katie Heggemeier. Katie tentatively identified it as Culex coronator. The specimen identification was verified by Dr. Roxanne Connelly of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in SWFL.

Hillsborough health officials announced the state's first death from eastern equine encephalitis since 2008 on July 20, 2010.

In recent weeks, four horses in Hillsborough have tested positive for EEE, health officials said, increasing the potential for people to get infected.

"This tragic loss of life is a reminder that as we move through the summer months, we must all be aware of how we can protect ourselves from mosquito-borne diseases," Dr. Douglas Holt, director of the Hillsborough County Health Department, said in a statement.

July 6, 2010: The Collier County Health Department (CCHD) and the Florida Department of Health are issued a mosquito-borne advisory after a second positive report of a horse with Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) in Collier County in the past two weeks.

The virus is maintained in a cycle between mosquitoes and birds in freshwater swampy areas, sometimes biting a horse or a human.

EEEV causes severe illness in humans and horses. Symptoms in humans develop 3-10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and begin with a sudden onset of fever, general muscle pains, and a headache of increasing severity. Symptoms can become more severe over 1-2 weeks and infected individuals will either recover or show onset of inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) with seizures and vomiting.

Human cases are usually preceded by those in horses. Disease transmission does not occur directly from person to person. Those at highest risk are people who live in or visit woodland areas, people who work or participate in outdoor recreational activities where there is greater exposure to potentially infected mosquitoes.

The CCHD reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Everyone is encouraged to take the basic steps to limit exposure by following these recommendations:

To protect yourself from mosquitoes, you should remember the "5Ds":

·        Dusk and Dawn -- Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking blood. For many species, this is during the dusk and dawn hours.
·        Dress -- Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.
·        DEET -- When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes, repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended. Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are other repellent options.
·        Drainage -- Check around your home to rid the area of standing water, which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

Read more: http://www.winknews.com/Home/2010-07-06/Health-department-issues-mosquito-borne-advisory#ixzz0svaNFeFl

EEE OUTSIDE OF SWFL

July 20, 2010 Press Release:

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) advises residents there has been increased mosquito-borne disease activity in Wakulla County. There is one confirmed human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus that resulted in a fatality in Wakulla County.

FMEL Arboviral Epidemic Risk Assessment for Florida, 2010

Due to current environmental conditions, the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL – UF/IFAS) has released the sixth FMEL Arboviral Epidemic Risk Assessment for Florida of 2010.

This update is current of as of July 24th, 2010 and assesses the current state of St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, and Eastern equine encephalitis transmission in Florida based on Modeled Water table Depth (MWTD) and the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI).

Arboviral Epidemic Transmission RISK areas have been defined for St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus based upon the current environmental conditions in the Florida peninsula.

There are currently 4 areas of concern for SLE/WNV amplification and transmission:

Area 1 - Sections of DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

Area 2 - Sections of Lee county.

Area 3 - Sections of Collier county.

Area 4 - Sections of Dade county.

EEE amplification and transmission continues to be of concern for central and north Florida.

More detailed information can be found in the latest update (PDF) at http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Documents/MWTD/FMEL_AERA_2010_06.pdf

The risk assessment is now a statewide assessment of transmission risk for arboviral diseases. Previous year’s assessments had been limited to peninsular Florida.

The RISK assessment will be run on a weekly basis thought the remainder of the arboviral transmission season and updates will be issued as needed.

General information about this model can be found at http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/MWTD_Risk_Model.htm

Florida Mosquito Control White Paper

The 2009 Florida Mosquito Control White Paper is in print and can be downloaded from: http://mosquito.ifas.ufl.edu/Mosquito_Control_White_Paper.htm

Tips on Repellent Use

Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before applying a repellent.

In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is appropriate. DEET is not recommended on children younger than 2 months old. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children less than 3 years old.

Infants should be kept indoors or mosquito netting should be used over carriers when outside.

Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child's skin and clothing.

Apply insect repellent to exposed skin or onto clothing, but not under clothing. Do not apply repellent to the eyes or mouth, cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.

If additional protection is necessary, apply a permethrin repellent directly to clothing or gear.

Tips on Eliminating Mosquito Breeding Sites

Remove water in old tires, buckets, garbage cans, and other containers where water collects.

Check clogged gutters and flat roofs that may have poor drainage.

Fill in holes or dips in the ground that collect water. Level the ground around your home so water can run off.

Empty birdbaths, water bowls, plant pots, and wading pools once or twice a week.

Store boats upside down or with a cover.

Products for Homeowners

As mosquito season approaches, homeowners often ask what they can do to help control mosquitoes around their home. For more information on mosquito control timed spray systems, ultrasonic devices, mosquito trapping devices, bug zappers, bats and purple martins go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN171