Post by KNOWTHIS on May 11, 2006 3:26:41 GMT -5
www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4879906
West Nile Virus arrives in Tennessee
The first signs of the West Nile Virus are appearing here in Tennessee.
State health officials say a pool of mosquitoes in Shelby County has tested positive for the virus.
Last year, the state had 18 human infections which led to one death.
The West Nile Virus season usually starts in may with human infections generally appearing in July or August.
With that in mind, officials say it's time to start protecting yourself from the virus.
Volunteer TV's Kim Bedford shows you how to keep your home and yard mosquito-free.
The mosquitoes are slowly venturing out as the temperatures rise in East Tennessee.
"We've been treating standing water in Knox County since February," Ronnie Nease is Knox County's Director of Environmental Health.
He says they can only do so much to keep everyone safe. "We need the community's help cause we cannot take care of the mosquitoes, all of them in Knox County."
Everyone loves to spend their summer outdoors, but Nease says you have to be safe about it.
Wear appropriate clothing outside, light-colored, long-sleeves are best. Always put repellent on with DEET before going outside and get rid of any dirty standing water.
"You can do a survey around your home of going and checking and looking for standing water and any place that you have standing water, pour it out," Nease says.
You may think your house is safe, but Nease says standing water can be anywhere. "The drip pan under your flower pots collect water, look at your bird baths, buckets, cups."
But what about the nice-looking outdoor ponds many have now?
"It's really an ideal place for a lot of mosquitoes to breed," says Michael Towle, Aquarium Fresh Water Manager.
Don't worry, you can keep your pond mosquito-free with these little guys, Gambuzi Mosquito fish.
"The best way to combat that is to have some type of fish in there to eat mosquito larvae," Towle says.
Nease says your level of protection is really up to you. "You just need to be careful. If the level got sufficient, you could contract West Nile Virus."
The Knox County Health Department says they'll begin spraying for mosquitoes in early June.
West Nile Virus arrives in Tennessee
The first signs of the West Nile Virus are appearing here in Tennessee.
State health officials say a pool of mosquitoes in Shelby County has tested positive for the virus.
Last year, the state had 18 human infections which led to one death.
The West Nile Virus season usually starts in may with human infections generally appearing in July or August.
With that in mind, officials say it's time to start protecting yourself from the virus.
Volunteer TV's Kim Bedford shows you how to keep your home and yard mosquito-free.
The mosquitoes are slowly venturing out as the temperatures rise in East Tennessee.
"We've been treating standing water in Knox County since February," Ronnie Nease is Knox County's Director of Environmental Health.
He says they can only do so much to keep everyone safe. "We need the community's help cause we cannot take care of the mosquitoes, all of them in Knox County."
Everyone loves to spend their summer outdoors, but Nease says you have to be safe about it.
Wear appropriate clothing outside, light-colored, long-sleeves are best. Always put repellent on with DEET before going outside and get rid of any dirty standing water.
"You can do a survey around your home of going and checking and looking for standing water and any place that you have standing water, pour it out," Nease says.
You may think your house is safe, but Nease says standing water can be anywhere. "The drip pan under your flower pots collect water, look at your bird baths, buckets, cups."
But what about the nice-looking outdoor ponds many have now?
"It's really an ideal place for a lot of mosquitoes to breed," says Michael Towle, Aquarium Fresh Water Manager.
Don't worry, you can keep your pond mosquito-free with these little guys, Gambuzi Mosquito fish.
"The best way to combat that is to have some type of fish in there to eat mosquito larvae," Towle says.
Nease says your level of protection is really up to you. "You just need to be careful. If the level got sufficient, you could contract West Nile Virus."
The Knox County Health Department says they'll begin spraying for mosquitoes in early June.