Mosquito health alert

Around here, West Nile virus is becoming a problem:

https://www.koat.com/article/bernalillo ... s/29095679

Joe

Here in Mass, we have one death I believe, 7 or 8 human cases. Spraying is going on in three or four counties including mine. For perspective - there have been less than 100 cases in Mass since 1938 when the virus was discovered.I think it's way more dangerous to drive in your car, although if you catch the disease, the mortality rate is high in humans.

When out at dusk I wear long sleeves and pants, hat with bug repellant.  I do wonder how much damage the spraying is causing to our insects and wildlife.

Richard

As the planet continues to warm, more and more mosquito borne illnesses will find their way farther and farther north.  Malaria in the USA will probably be a reality before too long

Richard B. wrote:Here in Mass, we have one death I believe, 7 or 8 human cases. Spraying is going on in three or four counties including mine. For perspective - there have been less than 100 cases in Mass since 1938 when the virus was discovered.I think it's way more dangerous to drive in your car, although if you catch the disease, the mortality rate is high in humans.

When out at dusk I wear long sleeves and pants, hat with bug repellant.  I do wonder how much damage the spraying is causing to our insects and wildlife.

Richard

Around here in C.Oregon, spraying is done with BT.  It is expensive but a lot more environmentally sound.

E.J. Peiker wrote:As the planet continues to warm, more and more mosquito borne illnesses will find their way farther and farther north.  Malaria in the USA will probably be a reality before too long

Not only malaria, but dengue fever, and I'm sure there will be more.
P

Historically, malaria was common in parts of this country. It was eliminated using methods we no longer permit. Worldwide 200+ million cases and 400+ thousand deaths each year.

Coincidentally I just came across the following article on Apple News, re: the spread of the disease carrying mosquito species deep into California. We're talking dengue and yellow fever here,

https://khn.org/news/invasive-mosquitoe ... alifornia/

Michigan is close to Toronto and you know these things can move. Before you know it, it's up here in eastern Ontario. I have to deal with mosquitoes all the time during the summer months. One more thing to have to deal with. BTW, I finally picked up The Original Bugshirt. Finally, a mosquito jacket that is easy to put on and take off and like the design too, I got the camouflage version.

Mike in O wrote:

Richard B. wrote:Here in Mass, we have one death I believe, 7 or 8 human cases. Spraying is going on in three or four counties including mine. For perspective - there have been less than 100 cases in Mass since 1938 when the virus was discovered.I think it's way more dangerous to drive in your car, although if you catch the disease, the mortality rate is high in humans.

When out at dusk I wear long sleeves and pants, hat with bug repellant.  I do wonder how much damage the spraying is causing to our insects and wildlife.

Richard

Around here in C.Oregon, spraying is done with BT.  It is expensive but a lot more environmentally sound.

Had to look up BT, sounds great they are using that instead of broad spectrum pesticides.  I used it many years ago on vegetable crops.