August 29th, 2016

Beware, the latest mosquito virus to hit Orange County: the St. Louis encephalitis - From the O.C. Register

For the first time in 30 years, Orange County mosquitoes have tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis, a disease that can be transmitted to humans, the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Monday.

The mosquitoes were trapped earlier this month in Garden Grove, said district spokesman Jared Dever.

St. Louis encephalitis is related to West Nile virus, which so far this year has sickened five Orange County residents and been found in mosquito samples from 25 local cities.

Typically a problem during the summer months only, mosquitoes are still hatching and flying due to the recent rains and high temperatures. That means there's still danger from West Nile virus & Encephalitis. Infected mosquitoes spread West Nile virus that can cause serious, life-altering, and even fatal disease. Keep using insect repellent, wear long sleeves and long pants and dump out standing water in the areas where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

The CDC has evaluated information contained in peer-reviewed scientific literature and data available from EPA has identified several EPA registered products that provide repellent activity sufficient to help people avoid the bites of disease carrying mosquitoes. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide reasonably long-lasting protection:

    Conventional Repellents

DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or N,N-diethly-3-methyl-benzamide) is the active ingredient found in many insect repellent products. It is used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks, including ticks that may carry Lyme disease. Products containing DEET currently are available to the public in a variety of liquids, lotions, sprays, and impregnated materials (e.g., wrist bands). Formulations registered for direct application to human skin contain from 4 to 100 percent DEET. Recommendation for urban, industrial or commercial users is at least 20% DEET. ( the higher the concentration the longer it lasts)

   Biopesticide Repellents
Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is found naturally in eucalyptus leaves and twigs. It was first registered in 1948 as an insecticide and miticide (kills insects and mites) and today is found in both lotion and spray insect repellents. As with most plant oils, no adverse effects to humans are expected. Products contain a range of 30 to 40 percent of the active ingredient.

More Recent News:

In addition to the real concern of West Nile and Lyme disease  "endemic TYPHUS" cases have recently emerged in Orange County. Numerous cases, including one individual inder 18, have been diagnosed with confirmed or probable infections caused by flea-borne typhus. This is transmitted by bites from infected fleas. --Our pets also require flea-prevention medications from biting insects.

Contact us for: insect repellents, natural insecticides, synthetic insecticides, insecticide sprays and granular products.