Bell County Public Health District FIGHT THE BITE Protect Yourself, Your Family and Community From Mosquitoes with the 3Ds Lacey Sanders Bell County Public Health District Epidemiologist www.bellcountyhealth.org

Objectives Mosquito Borne Viruses West Nile, Zika, Chikungunga and Dengue Vectors and Symptoms Prevention Integrated Mosquito Management Surveillance and Intervention Questions

Culex quinquefasciatus = Southern House mosquito (WNV mosquito) Aedes aegypti = Yellow Fever mosquito (Zika mosquito) Culex quinquefasciatus = Southern House mosquito (WNV mosquito) Aedes albopictus = Asian Tiger mosquito (Zika mosquito)

Public Health Enemy #1 Culex quinquefasciatus, aka the “quinq”, aka the Southern House Mosquito, aka WNV Mosquito Breeds in stagnant water high in organic matter Residential inhabitant Can breed in very small amounts of water Lays ~100-150 eggs at a time Lifecycle is ~7 days Thrives in drought conditions! Active at dawn and dusk Feeds on birds and mammals

West Nile Virus WNF = West Nile Fever WNND = West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease 80% infected are asymptomatic 20% WNF <1% WNND Flu-like symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, nausea, rash, fatigue Generally short-lived, but many cite lasting effects (fatigue, weakness) WNND can be deadly (5-10%) Onset: 3-14 days after bite

2012: 1,868 Cases 89 Deaths

Public Health Enemy #1A Asian Tiger mosquito, Yellow Fever mosquito (Aedes mosquitoes) Container breeders Residential inhabitant, “domesticated” Can breed in very small amounts of water Lay eggs singly – “skip oviposition” Lifecycle is ~7 days Active during dawn, daytime, dusk, night Chikungunya, dengue, Zika, heartworm Needs humidity

Zika Can be passed from Mother to Child Up to 1 in 100 experience birth defects or death of the fetus Can be spread sexually from by males Guillian-Barre Syndrome Questions: Asymptomatic spread? What trimester of pregnancy? Aedes albopictus? Other developmental delays? Zika Aedes mosquitoes can transmit Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika, but today we will just discuss Zika. For recommendations on preventing sexual transmission, see the CDC website

Guillian-Barre Syndrome Microcephaly Guillian-Barre Syndrome Severe birth defect Can be fatal Moderate to severe brain damage 1 in 100 chance (?) Autoimmune syndrome Causes paralysis Patients usually recover with treatment Can be fatal if not treated

Is Texas at Risk? Yes! Aggressive day-time biters Prefer to feed on people Live indoors and outdoors Breed around homes (buckets, bird baths, flower pots, etc.)

PREVENTION The most effective mosquito prevention is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY! The only person responsible for protecting you from mosquito-borne disease is YOU!

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY At work and home: Have mosquito repellent available at all times Spray clothing rather than skin Keep skin covered Avoid sunscreen-repellent combos Avoid working outside at dawn and dusk Keep Dunks in your vehicles

Repellent Brochures are available

But what can I do? Check your yards!!! Gutters Irrigation systems Low lying areas

Birdbaths – 2x per week Plant saucers – 2x per week Wheelbarrows/gardening equipment Kids toys Tires Rain Barrels

What are Mosquito Dunks? Inactive form of naturally occurring bacteria Natural product (biological control agent) Only targets mosquito larvae Harmless to people, pets, fish, beneficial insects, wildlife, etc. Active for 30 days General use pesticide – no license required Available at most home improvement/farm/hardware stores and can buy in bulk online Always read directions and follow the label!

Floodwater Mosquitoes #1 Nuisance calls 1-2 weeks after rain Eggs drought resistant Rain promotes hatching Mass emergence Large, aggressive Multiple bites NOT disease vectors Floodwater mosquitoes do not transmit disease here in Texas, but can be a major nuisance.

Integrated Mosquito Management Mosquito Management ≠ Mosquito Control Surveillance and Testing Surveillance done by Bell County Public Health District, sent to DSHS Austin for WNV/CHIKV testing “Fight the Bite” education campaign Work side by side with cities for control decisions Guidance in emergency situations Creation of Best Management Practices

Communities need to help in the fight against mosquitoes! No cities in Bell County have active mosquito control Bell County does arbovirus surveillance, NO mosquito control Mosquito abatement is up to each city All cities can practice mosquito prevention! Responsibility of everyone, not just one department Mosquito education is always free: Take the opportunity to educate citizens Educate city employees on mosquito calls (stagnant water to CE, clogged drainage ditch to PW, etc.)

Utilities/Public Works: Parks and Recreation: Ensure streams are running, free of debris Check all playgrounds Drill holes in tires Observe low lying areas Backfill if possible Utilities/Public Works: Monitor storm sewers and runoff Encourage residents to keep yard waste out of drains Informational utility mailers

Sanitation/ Recycling: Encourage proper yard waste disposal Community clean-up days Free tire drop offs Neighborhood dump days Transportation/Public Works: Monitor drainage ditches Clear debris and garbage

Code Enforcement: City Hall/Marketing: Educational Social Media Posts Stagnant water enforcement Sanitary yard enforcement Collaborate with Bell County Public Health District’s Environmental Health Division (254)-778-7557 for areas outside of city

Resources www.bellcountyhealth.org TexasZika.org Posters/Flyers for download (Eng/Sp) FAQs Zika information Helpful links Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest

QUESTIONS? Lacey Sanders lsanders@bellcountyhealth.org www.bellcountyhealth.org QUESTIONS?