Stay Healthy By Controlling Mosquitoes
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Del.icio.usThe high-pitched buzzing of a mosquito is annoying, but even worse would be to catch a disease from it.
The state Department of Health is urging residents to control the mosquito population by taking a few simple steps now, since mosquitoes are a source of dengue fever and West Nile virus. There was a small outbreak of the dengue fever here in 2001-2002, and the state was able to take action to contain it with the public’s cooperation.
Officials advise residents to eliminate places where water collects, such as empty flower pots, old tires, buckets and old toys. DOH officials remind the public that bromeliads collect water in the crown of the flower, but if people flush the plant each week, then larvae will not survive.
In 2006, there were 4,269 of mosquito-related cases identified on the mainland, which includes 1,459 brain infections and 177 deaths. In Indonesia, there were more than 100,000 infections this year.
The West Nile virus can infect birds so DOT urges the public to report them by calling 211 so they can be tested for the disease. For details, log onto the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website, www.gotdeadbird.org
There is no cure or vaccine for dengue fever or West Nile virus.
For more information, log onto www.hawaii.gov/health, Centers For Disease Control www.cdc.gov or World Health Organization www.who.int
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