Jun 30, 2014 | Mosquito
What Do You Need To Know About Chikungunya, the mosquito-borne virus?
By: Kate King
[email protected]
As many of you have been seeing or hearing in the news recently, the mosquito-borne virus, Chikungunya is being reported in the United States. The symptoms of Chikungunya are very similar to those of the flu: fever, joint pain, muscles aches, joint swelling, and possible rash. The symptoms typically appear 5-7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and last for about a week. However, the joint pain may continue for a longer period of time. The best thing for you to do if you are experiencing these symptoms is to get plenty of rest, keep hydrated, and take a pain reliever/fever reducer. You should also notify your doctor.
Let me first say that many of the cases reported are from people traveling in areas where the virus is found naturally. To date, there are no documented cases originating from within the United States, according to the CDC. The mosquitoes that carry the virus are found throughout the United States, so there is the potential for the virus to become established here.
There are a few things that you can do to help limit the possibility of being bitten by a mosquito and reduce the risk of chikungunya:
- Prevent standing water
- Dump water at least once a week to prevent mosquito larvae from becoming adults
- Wear protective clothing like long sleeves, pants, and close toe shoes
- Use a protective spray that will repel the mosquitoes
- Be cautious when standing in shaded areas – the mosquitoes that carry the virus are known for biting during the day, not during dawn and dusk as many other mosquitoes are
- Hire a professional mosquito control company
If you are experiencing an issue with mosquitoes on your property, or you would like to try and prevent any kind of issues, contact your local Pest Control Company.
Jun 13, 2014 | DIY, DIY Mosquito Control, Mosquito
How to Treat a Mosquito Bite
If you spend any time outside, especially in the Southern states, there is a good chance you will get a mosquito bite. The female mosquito (males don’t bite) feed on blood. Once they bite they cause a minor allergic reaction. You will most often see the skin raise and turn red. The itch comes from the allergic reaction to the saliva, an anticoagulant, that the mosquito injects while sucking your blood.
So how can you treat a mosquito bite?
- Wash the affected area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol to remove any excess saliva that is still on the skin.
- Apply ice to the bite as soon as you become aware that you’ve been bitten. Ice will help alleviate pain and swelling.
- Apply an anti-itch medication to the area of the bite. You can also try home remedies such as applying toothpaste, baking soda, mouth wash, or Epsom salt.
- Although it can be difficult, avoid scratching. Scratching will only further aggravate the itch and prolong healing.
How to avoid getting bit by a mosquito:
- Have your property treated by a licensed mosquito control company.
- Apply an insect repellent to deter mosquitoes.
- Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed toed shoes when possible.
- Read our blog 10 Ways to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Jun 11, 2014 | Mosquito
Tips to Prevent Mosquito Bites When Outdoors this Summer
Warmer weather is finally here and we know our residents are no doubt spending more time outdoors. However, with increased outdoor activity, the public is at risk of becoming a meal for summer’s most dangerous and pesky pest – the mosquito. That’s why we are urging the public to take preventative measures to protect themselves and their families.
Mosquitoes are emerging early across the country due to recent rainfall and an increase in temperatures. With the threat of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, it’s important for people to take the necessary precautions to prevent mosquito bites when spending time outdoors in the coming months.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a nonprofit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property from household pests, offers the following tips to avoid becoming a mosquito meal:
- Eliminate areas of standing water around the home such as flowerpots, birdbaths, baby pools, grill covers and other objects where water collects. Mosquitoes need only about a ½ inch of water to breed.
- Screen all windows and doors. Repair even the smallest tear or hole.
- Minimize outside activity between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.If you must be outside during those times, consider staying inside a screened-in porch or dressing in clothing that leaves very little exposed skin.
- Avoid wearing dark colors, loose-fitting garments, and open-toe shoes.
- Always use an insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus when spending time outdoors or traveling, especially in areas known to have increased mosquito populations.
For more information on mosquitoes and other summer pests, please visit www.callnorthwest.com.
Jun 9, 2014 | Going Green, Mosquito
What If Mosquitoes Were Annihilated?
A recent video on Yahoo! News asked the question, “What If Mosquitoes were Annihilated?”. The video reminds us that mosquitoes, although tiny, have a HUGE impact on humans. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal killing more than 725,000 people each year. If mosquitoes are such a danger then why don’t we eradicate them?
Out of the 3,500 species of mosquitoes, only 3 of those are the cause of disease spread. Is it worth it to destroy habitats, danger the environment, and disrupt the life cycle of other animals?
To watch the video, “What If Mosquitoes were Annihilated?” click HERE.
We may not be able to kill mosquitoes across the world but we can assist you in mosquito control for your home in an environmentally friendly manner. Call us today for more information on our Green Mosquito Control Program.
May 19, 2014 | Mosquito
Are Mosquitoes the Most Deadly Animal? The Dangers of Mosquitoes.
Bill Gates recently wrote “The Deadliest Animal in the World” on his blog, ‘gatesnotes’. In this article, Mr. Gates quotes some pretty startling statistics about the dangers of mosquitoes and their threat to humans. Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal in the world. How’s that for the tiny, annoying bug that we often sarcastically refer to as the “state bird”?!
There are over 2,500 species of mosquitoes around the world (covering every region except Antarctica). Besides termites and ants, mosquitoes outnumber every other animal.
What makes mosquitoes so dangerous?
Mosquitoes can carry malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile, and encephalitis. Malaria alone threatens half of the world’s population and is responsible for killing more than 600,000 people each year. Dengue fever causes serious illness and death, especially among children. Cases of dengue fever were discovered in Florida last year. Read more on Bill Gates recent trip to Indonesia to learn more about the fight against dengue fever HERE.
We encourage you to read Bill Gates full blog on the dangers of mosquitoes. For more information on what you can do to control mosquitoes around your home visit https://www.callnorthwest.com/pest-control/mosquito-control/
Sep 4, 2013 | Mosquito, Pest Control, Uncategorized
Prevention is key in keeping mosquitoes and other pests away from your home. Making your property less appealing to mosquitoes is a huge step in keeping mosquitoes away. If they don’t have a place to lay their eggs, then they won’t stick around. One of the most important things you can do is to remove areas of standing water.
This can be done by eliminating areas in your yard where standing water occurs (gutters, plants, lawn decor, tires, playgrounds, items found in yard, etc.). Make sure that things such as bird baths, fountains, and plants are emptied frequently.
This is one simple yet effective way to keep mosquitoes away.
Mosquito Control by a professional pest control company can effectively eliminate mosquito habitats and work with you to ensure that your property is not a mosquito magnet!
Call Northwest Exterminating for more information on our Green Mosquito Control Program.
Aug 23, 2013 | Mosquito
Northwest Exterminating representative, Courtesy of AJC
Need tips on how to keep mosquitoes away?
- Remove standing water from your yard. These areas serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- Keep screens on windows and doors to keep them out of your home.
- Use an insect repellant. DEET is highly recommended. Be sure to read the label and reapply as necessary.
- Cover up. We know it’s hot but items like hats, long sleeve shirts, long pants, and shoes that cover your feet will help keep the mosquitoes from biting.
- Wear light colors. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors so keep it light and bright to keep them away.
- Stay still. Movement produces a change in waves of light and acts as a signal to mosquitoes. Carbon dioxide is also an attractant, so the more you move, the harder you breathe and the more you attract mosquitoes.
- Plants. Certain strong smelling plants help keep mosquitoes away. Citronella, marigolds, and lemongrass are some of the plants you can use outdoors, while rosemary and basil are said to be helpful inside.
- Home remedies. There is no shortage of DIY remedies online. Some of these can be useful for short term effectiveness.
- Professional pest management. A trained pest control technician can inspect your property to identify what is attracting the mosquito infestation. The technician can then treat your property in an earth friendly and effective manner. They can also provide you with a plan to keep mosquitoes away.
These are just a few tips on keeping mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes are known carriers of diseases like West Nile virus, encephalitis, and heartworms in dogs. Make sure that you are protecting yourself and your loved ones. For more information, visit our blog or call Northwest Exterminating at 888.466.7849.
Why Do Mosquitoes Love Me So Much?
Aug 21, 2013 | Mosquito
Good news…we’re no longer in a drought!!
Bad news…thanks to all of the record breaking rain, we have record amounts of pests, especially mosquitoes!
Moisture is known to attract pests. They, like humans, need moisture to survive. So it’s no surprise that with the large amount of rain we’ve gotten this year that mosquitoes have become a major issue for Georgia residents.
Georgia is no stranger to mosquitoes. Between standing water (lakes, ponds, creeks, even standing water in your yard) and the local vegetation, we are accustomed to this issue. While some residents turn to DIY options, those aren’t always effective. Going to the local hardware store and picking out a product from the shelves may help short term but will not get to the source of the mosquito infestation.
Northwest Exterminating’s Green Mosquito Control provides monthly mosquito treatments by a licensed professional. Our professionals are knowledgeable about the products they are using, what attracts mosquitoes, and the process of keeping them away. Our professional exterminators will inspect the property and identify the source of the breeding and nesting areas. After they’ve determined these areas they are able to apply an environmentally friendly product derived from flowers and bacteria.
For tips on ways to reduce mosquitoes visit HERE.
For more information on Northwest Exterminating’s Green Mosquito Control call 888.466.7849 or visit us online at www.callnorthwest.com
Aug 7, 2013 | Mosquito
Asian Tiger Mosquito
If you are just now being able to absorb the menace of the Gallinipper mosquito, unfortunately you won’t be able to breathe easy just yet. Evidently, tourists aren’t the only people coming to our American shores this summer. The Asian tiger mosquito is named for the black-and-white stripes on its body. You may think that spraying on some bug spray during the day time will help keep them at bay, but think again! This mosquito is different from others in that it bites all day long and pursues not only humans, but also dogs, cats, birds and other animals.
According to Livescience.com, entomology professor Dina Fonseca reports “Part of the reason it is called ‘tiger’ is also because it is very aggressive… you can try and swat it all you want, but once it’s on you, it doesn’t let go.” Another serious concern of this particular insect is that it spreads more than 20 diseases, including West Nile fever, dengue fever, yellow fever and two types of encephalitis.
Since the 1980s, the Asian tiger mosquito has reached 26 states, primarily in the eastern United States. Warm weather helps this pest get around, but its eggs are also capable of surviving cold weather. To help eliminate the potential destruction of this pest, it is important to remove standing water, wear insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants outdoors. Naturally, Northwest Exterminating is equipped with preventive solutions to give you a mosquito-free summer. If you’re interested in our services, give us a call!
Sources:
http://www.livescience.com/37715-asian-tiger-mosquitoes-chikungunya.html
