23d CES combats mosquito threats

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lauren M. Sprunk
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Due to recent confirmed cases of mosquito disease outbreaks by the Georgia Department of Public Health in South Georgia, Moody’s 23d Civil Engineering Squadron pest management team is proactively combating mosquito-borne illnesses.

They are accomplishing this by teaching Airmen, their families and the community about mosquito-borne illnesses, the symptoms to look out for, and the precautions to take to avoid being infected by a mosquito.

“Mosquitos are vectors, which means that they can transmit a disease or virus from one organism to another,” said Staff Sgt. Aaron Rasch, 23d CES pest management journeyman. “Once a mosquito contracts a disease, it can spread it to any person that it bites. Because of this, it is very important to take all precautions against mosquito bites and to know what signs to look out for in relation to mosquito-borne illnesses.”

There are several different mosquito-borne illnesses, which can exhibit various symptoms depending on the strand and severity of the infection, as well as the overall health of the person affected. Recently, a positive case of West Nile Virus was confirmed in Ben Hill County, Ga., as well as a positive case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a horse in Lowndes County, Ga.

“While most people infected with West Nile virus don’t show any symptoms of the illness and pass it on their own, even healthy people have become severely ill for weeks when infected,” said Dr. William Grow, district health director. “EEE is extremely rare in humans; however, is extremely concerning because it involves inflammation of the brain.”

EEE can be detected by the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. Symptoms of West Nile virus usually develop two to 14 days after being infected and include headache, fever, neck discomfort, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. The elderly, ill, or those with underlying conditions are at greater risk for complications from the disease.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, there aren’t any vaccines available for humans for mosquito-borne diseases, nor is there a specific treatment, so the best protection is to avoid being bitten in the first place.

When going outdoors, residents should wear insect repellant containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or PMD, which can be found on the product’s label. In addition, they should wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks as weather permits to reduce the amount of exposed skin.

“We live in the [Southeast region of the United States] so it gets very hot, but it’s important to try to wear clothing that a mosquito cannot bite through,” said Rasch. “Wearing jeans at the very least is a great way to guard your legs from getting bitten.”

In addition to shielding themselves, precautions can be taken to reduce the number of mosquitoes around one’s home.

“One of the biggest things to prevent from having mosquitoes around your home is to remove any standing water around your residence,” said Rasch. “Anything such as pots, lawn equipment or small holes around your home should be dumped and set in a position so they cannot collect water. If possible, fill any holes with sand to prevent water build-up.”

Residents can also use mosquito netting, fans or repellant candles around their home to deter mosquitoes.

Larger areas, such as military bases, may need to be treated for mosquitoes. Pest management, as well as public health here, set to survey and perform mosquito counts in order to determine if the base itself needs mosquito treatment.

“During rainy seasons, surveys are performed on standing water for mosquito larva,” said Rasch. “When surveys reveal positive results, we larvacide the required areas to prevent that larva from becoming adults. This reduces the risk of mosquito biting and possible disease encounters base-wide.”

For more information regarding mosquito-borne illnesses in the area, contact the pest management department at (229) 257-4397.