Shoo, fly, don't bother me

Recent rainstorms might be a good thing for parched land and dirty cars, but pools of water left from the downpours have left a buzzing nuisance in the air - and it might not be leaving any time soon.

That buzz is the sound of mosquitoes - and pests are being seen, and felt, more frequently due to the rise in the moisture level.

Gino Solla, Ector County Health Department director, said that until just a couple of weeks ago, Odessa had a light mosquito population. That population experienced a boom during last week's rainstorms and will increase accordingly if Odessa's hit with more rain, he said.

And, with the increase of mosquitoes, people are obviously more likely to get bit. But, there are some ways to ward mosquitoes off.

"One great and very important precaution is that they remain preferably indoors, especially when the sun goes down, because that's when mosquitoes become most active," Solla said. "If they do need to go outdoors, wear protective clothing, such as long sleeves, to cover the majority of the body."

Kathy Parker, Zoonosis Control Specialist for the Texas Department of State Health Services in Midland, said those who work outdoors jobs, like the oilfields, or have outdoor hobbies are most susceptible to bug bites.

Solla also suggests wearing mosquito repellant that has DEET as the major ingredient. DEET can be found in most major store-bought insect repellants.

Along with Solla's suggestions, Parker said people should also drain any standing water near their homes.

"Mosquitoes aren't going to fly far for a meal," she said. "The best thing to do is make sure to get rid of any standing water."

 Solla said people who have pools should also be sure to keep the pool chlorinated. Otherwise, he said, it becomes a big harbor for mosquitoes.

If people do have mosquitoes near their home, Solla said the Health Department has a vector control program to spray if it's requested. The spray is a larvacide that keeps the baby mosquitoes from hatching and becoming adult mosquitoes. The spray also kills some of the adults.

WEST NILE?

Even with an increase of mosquitoes, the West Nile virus still isn't a major concern for the area, Solla said.

"In our area, we may have had one or two cases of West Nile fever in four to five years," Solla said.

But the lack of cases doesn't mean people shouldn't be careful.

"Prevention is the key," Parker said.

Parker said people with more serious cases of bug bites that result in a high fever or a headache should seek medical attention, because those are possible symptoms of West Nile or another illness.

Solla suggested people educate themselves on what the symptoms are and go to a doctor immediately if any symptoms are present.

After seeing a doctor, people should get good sleep, drink fluids and let it go its course like any other virus, Parker said.

"People are learning to live a little more with West Nile," she said. "It's been around now for six years.

"This year none have been confirmed positive," Parker said. "But we don't usually see West Nile cases until August, September and October.

Parker left a final warning: "Most of the serious cases never used insect repellant," she said. "Wear that insect repellant!"

PREVENTING MOSQUITO BORN VIRUSES

>> Wear mosquito repellant that contains DEET.

>> Stay indoors during dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are at their peak.

>> Cover the majority of the body when outdoors.

>> Drain and get rid of any stagnant water near your house.

>> Call the Health Department at 498-4141 for vector control.

WHAT'S WEST NILE VIRUS?

>> According to the Center for Disease Control, West Nile is a seasonal epidemic that hits its peak during the summer into the fall months.

>>West Nile is commonly spread through infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can become infected by feeding on infected birds. Mosquitoes spread the disease to humans and animals in their bites.

>> In a rare case, West Nile can be spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even from mother to child during pregnancy.

>> Symptoms include high fever, headache, disorientation, body aches and nausea. About 80 percent of people who're infected do not show any symptoms.

>> Symptoms usually develop three to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.