Mosquitoes
FACTS ABOUT MOSQUITOES especially in the Philippines.
_ Mosquitoes have a serious impact on the health, comfort, and economic welfare of people.
Some species transmit diseases to man and animals.
In Maricopa County, there is particular concern with mosquito-borne encephalitis (sleeping sickness).
Large numbers of mosquitoes interfere with outdoor work and recreation, cause livestock to lose weight, and lower property values.
Typical Breeding Sites:
_ Adult female mosquitoes can deposit eggs in a variety of aquatic habitats and other sources that will contain water.
The immature stages of each mosquito species develop in particular habitats.
There are four mosquito habitat groups in Maricopa County: agricultural, industrial, domestic, and natural sources.
Agricultural Sources: irrigated pastures, dairy's, and orchards.
Industry Sources: sewage treatment ponds, flood plains, drain ditches.
Domestic Sources: containers, debris in and around ponds, bird baths, pet watering dishes, animal troughs, septic tanks, catch basins, roadside ditches, leaky sprinkler systems, stagnant swimming pools.
Natural Sources: wetlands, rain pools.
Common Mosquito Species In the Philippines Mindanao:
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_ Encephalitis mosquito (Culex tarsalis).
This mosquito can transmit the encephalitis (sleeping sickness) virus to humans.
It has been seen in Maricopa
County.
NEUROTROPIC-VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS
The neurotropic-virus encephalitis group comprises several epidemic
diseases that primarily affect wild and domestic animals and birds.
The disease is transmitted to human beings from these animals by insect
carriers.
St Louis encephalitis, first recognized in 1933 during an epidemic in St
Louis, Missouri, United States, is transmitted to humans by mosquito
bites.
Other mosquito-borne types of encephalitis are Japanese B encephalitis,
California encephalitis, and equine encephalitis.
Ticks are the insect carriers of Russian spring-summer encephalitis
INTRODUCTION:
Encephalitis, any infectious disease of the human central nervous
system characterized by inflammation of the brain.
The typical symptoms are headache, fever, and extreme lethargy, which lead
eventually to coma; double vision, delirium, deafness, and facial palsy
often occur in the acute stage of the disease.
After effects of encephalitis may include deafness, epilepsy, and
dementia.
Several types of encephalitis are caused by viral infection of the
central nervous system.
These types fall into two main groups, primary neurotropic-virus
infections and secondary infections occurring as complications of a
primary virus infection elsewhere in the body.
Aedes Treehole Mosquito
Recent Issues:
An exotic species of mosquito known as Aedes aegypti is common in
whole South East Asia and other tropical areas even in Missouri and
southern Arizona in the USA.
Aedes aegypti is capable of transmitting diseases such as
dengue fever and yellow fever.
This mosquito thrives in urban and suburban neighborhoods because backyard containers and clutter (tires, buckets, water cans, etc.) offer ideal breeding conditions for them.
County and State health officials are asking for community assistance with this problem.
Please refer to our Backyard Checklist to see how you can help.
Aedes aegypti
SEASONAL ACTIVITY
_ Typically, mosquitoes are active during the monsoon season and
especially during evening- and nighttime.
BUT the Aedes Aegypti is active
during
the day!!!
PERSONAL PROTECTION FROM MOSQUITOES
_ Reduce outdoor activities during peak feeding periods (1 to 2 hours after dark)
_ Wear long pants and sleeves
_ Apply insect repellent
FIRST AID FOR MOSQUITO BITES
_ Wash bite with soap and water
_ Apply anti-itch medication
_ Apply cold cloth for swelling
_ Watch for secondary infections
