The yellow fever vector, mosquitoes

In the 1793 yellow fever epidemic, Philadelphians stopped shaking hands with each other and blamed the disease on the noxious odors of a hot summer, among other things. They were right in one way -- the carriers of disease were in the air around them -- mosquitoes.

Although we may not worry about yellow fever in Indiana, mosquitoes that carry diseases still are a problem. For example, cases of West Nile virus have been found in birds in Indiana -- though not yet confirmed in humans. St. Louis encephalitis and other diseases can also be transmitted by the flying insects.

Now that spring has brought us warmer weather and rains, mosquito-breeding season is upon us. Marion County Health Department officials say they're beginning their monitoring programs earlier than usual this spring. They'll be checking for signs of bird infection, and looking for areas of standing water that can breed mosquitoes.

Regular folks can also help by eliminating standing water in such places as clogged gutters and discarded tires. And if you have an ornamental garden pond, the department will give you free mosquito fish, which love to eat mosquito larvae.

Resources:

In Indiana, report sightings of dead crows, bluejays, or raptors to your local health department. (Indiana limits testing to these species since they are the ones most likely to die from West Nile Virus.) In Indiana, locate your health department at the Indiana State Department of Health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a comprehensive Web site detailing the West Nile virus.

May 18, 2002