The song goes, “Summertime and the livin is easy.” That is until you’re bothered by that old seasonal nemesis, the mosquito. June 15-21 has been designated as National Mosquito Control Awareness Week.
In honor of this national observance the Henry and Stark County Health Departments’ staff offers the following information on the summer mosquito season and the potential health risks associated with mosquito bites.
Over the last few years, the U.S. has had increased cases of mosquito-borne illnesses such as the West Nile virus and other exotic diseases such as Zika virus, Dengue fever and Chikungunya threaten our shores. While Zika virus is also primarily transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, the main type of mosquito that carries Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, is different and is rarely found in Illinois. However, taking some simple precautions can help you avoid mosquito bites, regardless of the type of mosquito or the diseases they carry.
It should be noted that both Henry and Stark Counties have already reported their first mosquito specimen batches having tested positive for West Nile virus – WNV. Therefore, residents are encouraged to take precautions which include practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel, and report.
● REDUCE – make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut. Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.
● REPEL – when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
● REPORT – report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito eggs.
The Culex mosquito is the most common vector of West Nile Virus and other viral illnesses. The Culex mosquito relies mostly on artificial containers for breeding sites. An artificial container is anything that will hold water for more than four to five days. Enormous numbers of mosquitoes are produced day after day in such containers.
Therefore, the Health Department urges area residents to take the following steps to eliminate mosquito breeding sites:
● Discard all useless containers such as tin cans, tires, and stack buckets upside down when empty.
● Turn boats and canoes down when not in use.
● Don’t allow water to stand in low areas for more than one week, add small amounts of fuel oil each week to standing pools of water that can’t be drained.
● Empty and clean wading pools and bird baths once a week.
● Drain all livestock tanks once a week.
● Cover rain barrels and cisterns with mesh wire screening.
● Puncture holes in the bottom of tire swings to drain accumulated water.
● Clean out gutters and spouts of accumulated debris.
● Repair or replace screening on doors and windows with appropriate mesh.
For more information on West Nile virus or mosquito control measures call the Health Department at 309-852-0197 or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
It’s Henry County Fair Week and the Henry County Health Department is reminding residents they will be manning an outreach display on Wednesday, June 18 and Friday, June 20 from 2 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. in the Merchant’s Building on the Henry County Fairgrounds in Cambridge.
The Health Department and their First Choice Healthcare will be offering free blood pressure checks. In addition, their staff will have free giveaways, and lots of health information while at the Henry County Fair.
This event will be a good way for those interested in getting some great information, taking advantage of free giveaways, promotions, maybe health screenings, and talking and visiting with the Health Department and their First Choice Healthcare staff.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments are announcing that DOT Physicals are now available to area drivers at all their clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon.
The Department of Transportation requires some drivers to get regular physical exams to make sure they can drive safely. If any of the following apply to you, you must get a DOT physical and carry a DOT medical certificate when you drive a commercial vehicle:
● You are paid to operate a motor vehicle that holds nine to 15 passengers; you drive the vehicle more than 75 miles from where you report to work; you operate this vehicle for interstate commerce purposes.
● You operate a motor vehicle with a gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, or gross combination weight of at least 10,001 pounds; you operate this vehicle for interstate commerce purposes.
● You transport hazardous materials in certain quantities.
First Choice Healthcare notes, “If you want to comply with federal law, a qualified medical examiner must complete your DOT physical form.” Their nurse practitioners in Kewanee, Toulon and Colona are Certified DOT medical examiners.
DOT Physical participants should expect the examiner to review their health history and ask the participant to list the medications taken on a regular basis.
In addition, those who are seeing a provider and are on medication for sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac, anxiety, ADHD/ADD, depression and other mental health issues, and seizures. Participants need to obtain a “clearance letter” from the provider of care and bring it to their appointment.
Appointments for DOT Physicals are necessary, and can be made by contacting the First Choice Healthcare Clinic nearest you, Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309-852-3115. For more information visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
