Risk of mosquito-borne diseases increases in summer, county warns
With the high temperatures recorded in the region, which favor the proliferation of mosquitoes, especially in stagnant water, the Yuma County Health Department is warning the public about the risk of diseases transmitted by mosquito bites.
Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that higher temperatures warm still, shallow waters where mosquitoes lay their eggs, leading to faster larval growth and quicker maturation to adulthood.
Mosquito reproduction is favored in stagnant water that can accumulate in gutters, flower pots, bird baths, and clogged drains, as well as in buckets, children’s toys, old tires, pet water dishes, and any other outdoor containers. Keeping such spaces empty of standing water can help reduce mosquito populations in the area.
Richard Cuming, a vector control specialist at the Health Department, indicated that the control team inspects and treats breeding sites on public property, in addition to setting up mosquito monitoring traps every two weeks and analyzing the captured mosquitoes to detect any diseases they might carry.
Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and Western equine encephalitis; as well as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika, Cuming said.
For dengue, some symptoms can include dizziness, eye and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, weakness, and weight loss. For Zika, symptoms can include red eyes, conjunctivitis, headache, muscle pain, ulcers, light sensitivity, and itching. In the case of chikungunya, severe joint pain, red spots, headache, conjunctivitis, and weight loss may occur.