It’s mosquito season– check your property for standing water

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- Already this year, Benton County Mosquito Control has trapped several mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile Virus.

At least two infected insects were trapped in the Grandview area early this month.

Angela Beehler with Mosquito Control says it's important to check your property for any standing water.

"Mosquitoes in these temperatures will develop very quickly," Beehler said. "You want to make sure you're dumping any water on your property within a 4-day cycle. Don't let anything sit over four days. Tires, dog dishes, a boat tarp-- anything that could hold water from the sprinklers is going to be a potential development area for mosquitoes."

This time of year is also high-risk for the spread of West Nile virus (WNv) disease. The mosquito-borne illness circulates in nature primarily between birds and certain species of mosquitoes can also infect humans and horses if they're bitten by an infected mosquito.

Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent this illness in humans, so you're encouraged to use protections to avoid the risk of infection, like wearing mosquito repellent and clothing that prevents exposure to mosquitoes.

Symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, body rash, headache, and body aches. Fewer than 1 in 150 those infected will develop severe neuroinvasive diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis, which may cause neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. However, it is important to be aware these symptoms can develop as a result of mosquito bites, and anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider.

Safety tips to protect yourself from infection include:

• Avoid dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
• Drain standing water around your property to eliminate mosquito habitat
• Dress in long sleeves and pants, or loose light-colored clothing when mosquitoes are present
• Wear repellent containing DEET, or other EPA-approved insect repellent when outdoors
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens

Although local mosquito control districts are actively treating, trapping, and testing for West Nile Virus, it is still important for residents to take precautions to avoid getting infected with the virus.

Benton County Mosquito Control regularly sprays for adults mosquitoes, and drops granules to prevent the development of larvae in marshes and other standing water areas.

Beehler also encourages you to contact them, or your local control district, if you know of any unused pools or ponds that are turning green, so they can treat the water to prevent mosquito development.