Home Made Mosquito Repellent and West Nile Virus

From June to September, cases of West Nile virus fever are reported throughout North America. West Nile Fever is caused by a flavovirus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes who feed on birds and then humans. Most cases are without symptoms; however, approximately 10-20 % of people who contract the virus do have symptoms that include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, headache, lack of appetite, muscle aches, nausea, rash, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and vomiting. Less than one percent of infected individuals go on to develop a neurological condition. Neurological disease manifests as either West Nile Encephalitis or West Nile Meningitis. Symptoms may include confusion, loss of consciousness, muscle weakness, stiffness, and weakness of an arm or leg. Approximately 1 in 10 patients who develop brain inflamation will die.

Efforts to prevent West Nile Virus infection include attempts to remove mosquito breeding areas and keep mosquitoes from flying into the home. Mosquito larva grow in standing water, so eliminating standing water around the house reduces the quantity of mosquitoes in the area. Insecticide spraying can further decrease the mosquito population. Proper use of backyard mosquito eradication, as practiced by pest control specialists, can further reduce the number of mosquitoes. Installing window screens can stop mosquitoes from entering the home. The last line of defence in the war against mosquito bites is to take personal precautions. When anyone knows they will be in a locale where there are mosquitoes, he or she should wear long pants, and put on a shirt with long sleeves. Everyone should spray themselves with an approved mosquito repellent. It is critical to remember that mosquitoes can bite thorugh thin clothes, so if you are wearing thin apparel you should spray them as well as your self.

Dovid Davis, the Director of A # 1 Pest Contol suggests using the following home-made mosquito repellent , which employs chemicals in fabric softener that drive off mosquitoes. People can take advantage of this fact by putting the suit of clothing they are planning to wear to a mosquito infected area in a dryer along with 2 strips of fabric softener. They should run the dryer for about 10 minutes, long enough for the active substance in the fabric softener to permeate the clothing. According to Dovid, mosquitoes will not approach a person wearing those clothes.


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A # 1 Pest Control of Baltimore; 7236 Park Heights Avenue; Apt. A. ,Baltimore, MD. 21208; 410-764-7500;

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