Summer is in full swing now and, for many people, that means you need to be concerned about mosquitos. It’s important to understand the risks associated with mosquitoes, make sure you’re educated on things that are commonly misunderstood, and take steps to protect your household from potential danger. The fact is, mosquitos have become more of a concern in recent years than they have been in the past. Here is everything Houston residents should know about mosquitos.
Vigilance Is Key to Prevention
It’s important to understand what attracts large numbers of mosquitos and what you can do to help prevent this. The answer is more simple than you think. Mosquitos are attracted largely to sources of water. It’s important to carefully inspect your home and the areas surrounding it for potential water sources that might attract mosquitos. Standing water in your yard is obvious, but water accumulating in places like your gutters may not be as apparent. Make sure you check thoroughly and remove any standing water you find.
You Need Protection When You’re Outside
Most people only think to wear bug repellant when they’re planning to spend a lot of time outside. The truth is, you should apply insect spray if you are planning to spend any amount of time outside at all. If you are planning to spend a significant amount of time outdoors, you should also consider wearing long pants and a long-sleeve shirt, particularly around dusk when mosquitos are the most active.
You Can Get West Nile Virus Without Knowing It
These days, everybody’s biggest fear is getting West Nile virus from a mosquito. This is a valid concern, but it’s also important to understand that the virus doesn’t always manifest itself in infected people. As many as 40-percent of the people infected by West Nile have never exhibited any symptoms at all. Most of the people who do show signs of infection commonly mistake them for a mild viral infection and only around one percent of infected individuals experience symptoms that are detrimental to their health.
That is not to say that the West Nile virus should be taken lightly. It is definitely something to be concerned about but the panic it has induced in past years has been somewhat over-played.
Mosquito Season Lasts Longer Than You Think
Mosquito season typically begins around April in Houston, but there’s no solid date when it ends. Mosquitos will typically stick around until temperatures drop below 50 degrees on a consistent basis. That means, depending on weather conditions, that mosquito season can extend well into the fall.
Mosquitos can be anything from a mild nuisance to a potential danger to your health and well-being. Understanding a bit about how they operate and what you can do to help protect you and your household against them is the first step in the battle against mosquitos this year. Checking for standing water, wearing adequate protection, and staying vigilant will get you through another mosquito season in Houston.
Photo by negative13 | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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