If you are a horse, you have much more protection from the Eastern Equine Encephalitis than humans have, and I congratulate you. But since you are reading this, then I am very sure that you are not protected from this deadly disease; a disease that is currently in the news because it so far has caused the death of 10 people already in 4 states here in America. And what caused this seeming outbreak? You guessed it! Yes, it is them again, the ruthless and always deadly mosquitoes. And the eternal question, how to get rid of mosquitoes bites, again is just as relevant as ever.
What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?
The word “equine” means something that affects a horse or members of the horse family. Lime humans, horses can get infected with this disease. We do not get infected by a horse though; a mosquito bite does.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare disease that is caused by a virus which mosquitoes help to transmit. It is a bit tedious to explain how this virus gets into a human, but we will detail that anyway. The EEE virus goes back and forth between the mosquito type Culiseta melanura and infected birds. It is important to note that Culiseta melanura mosquitoes, otherwise known as black-tailed mosquitoes, do not feed on human blood. Instead, it is the birds’ blood that they feed on. Humans and other mammals only get infected when other species of mosquitoes, like the Aedis, Coquillettidia, and Culex species feed on the blood of birds that are infected with the EEE virus then later on feeding on the blood of a mammal or human, thereby transferring the virus to the host.
The EEE is one of the mosquito-borne diseases that can cause inflammation of the brain. It is a potentially fatal disease, but children and people over the age of 60 are more prone to a more severe form of EEE disease.
The risk of being bitten is high among those who work or play outdoors. In the United States, there are around 5 to 10 cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis every year.
EEE is also a serious disease among horses, but fortunately for our horsey friends, there is a vaccine that can protect them from EEE.
Vaccine For Horses
If you are a horse owner, and you have not given it a vaccine against EEE, then now is the time to do so. According to the American Association to Equine Practitioners, there are core vaccines that should be given to horses because of their importance. There are also the non-core vaccines, a vaccine that is not at the same level of importance as it would depend on the horse’s condition or potential risk. In this case, the vaccine for the Eastern equine encephalitis belongs to the core vaccine.
In the case of horses, transmission happens when a mosquito that has previously bitten a bird that was infected with the EEE virus bites the horse. Horse to human infection is not possible.
Signs that your horse may have the EEE include lethargy, depression, wandering, poor appetite, increased excitability, weakness in hind limbs, and a high fever that may last for 1 to 2 days. Those are just the initial signs though. Late-onset symptoms include stumbling, convulsions, twitching of the face and limbs, loss of coordination, paralysis, and coma. Horses rarely survive this stage. Oftentimes, euthanasia is recommended to ease the horse’s pain.
This is a fatal disease for the horses that are highly preventable by vaccines.
Symptoms In Humans
For this disease, the incubation period is about 4 days to 10 days after the mosquito bite. Once bitten by an infected mosquito, the patient will feel symptoms that are similar to the flu, such as fever, chills, and joint pains that last for 1 to 2 weeks. It is also possible that those who are infected may show no symptoms at all. Recovery is complete when the central nervous system is not involved. Unfortunately, about 5 per cent of the patients develops an encephalitic form of EEE which affects the brain. Symptoms for this include vomiting and convulsion. Signs and symptoms of encephalitic patients are fever, headache, irritability, anorexia, drowsiness, restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and coma. A third of all people with EEE die from this illness. And of those who do recover, they suffer disabling mental conditions like personality disorders, intellectual impairment, seizures, paralysis, and cranial nerve dysfunction.
There is no human vaccine to protect us against the Eastern equine encephalitis.
Treatment
There is no vaccine for EEE. People with the symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor, who in turn may recommend tests; and supportive care should be provided.
The Culprits
The Culiseta melanura mosquitoes are the guilty parties in transmitting this disease. Also known as the black tail mosquitoes, they belong to the family Culicidae. Blacktail mosquitoes, like almost all insects, undergo metamorphosis all their lives. They begin from being eggs to pupae, to larvae, and finally, the transition to adults. These mosquitoes are multivoltine insects producing eggs twice a year. Adult black tail mosquitoes like to lay eggs on the water that is cool and acidic. Approximately a hundred eggs are laid.
Adults have bluntly rounded abdominal tip that resembles that of Culex. They have long, curved proboscis, antennae attached to its head, with wings that are about 4 mm in length, and with white scales on the side of its head. Its thorax is covered in scales.
The adult males feed only on nectar. They also feed on other plant juices. The same is true with females, but they also require a blood meal as a source of protein, which is important for them to maintain their eggs. They look for birds as hosts, such as wood thrush or American robin. Adult males die shortly after mating, while the females live long enough to lay eggs, about 1 week to a month.
Prevention, And How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes
It is worth noting that mosquitoes are the most dangerous creatures on the planet. So dangerous, in fact, that they are already considered by many as mass murderers. They have killed more people on the planet than all of the wars in history combined. This is because they are carriers of some of the most fatal mosquito-borne diseases, and are generous enough to spread them to humans all over the world. Aside from the Eastern equine encephalitis, they also transmit dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, and the Western Nile fever.
Therefore, the most effective way to prevent eastern equine encephalitis, as well as all these diseases, is to control the population. After all, without the mosquitoes, there will be no mosquito bites. Below are some of the tips on how to get rid of mosquitoes bites.
- Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Remove all old items that can hold water for a long time. Items such as old tires, old cans, old gutters, abandoned birdbaths, and other similar items. Empty and scrub water containers
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover as much skin as possible.
- When going outdoors, put on EPA-approved mosquito repellent on your skin. Choose one with the active ingredient DEET for added protection. Other active ingredients you can check for include picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanoate, and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Inside the bedroom, use a mosquito net to protect you from mosquitoes. For some reason, mosquitoes find their way inside the bedrooms.
- Use screens on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from entering your house.
- Use air conditioning as much as possible. Electric fans can also work to protect you from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are lightweight and are clumsy fliers, so winds coming from an electric fan would definitely throw them off.
If all else fails, you can count on the local and best company for mosquitoes, Go-Forth Home Services.
Why Go-Forth Home Services
Go-Forth Home Services is a family-owned company that has been providing modern pest control services and techniques since 1959. They use the latest and most advanced technology in the business, making our service to you more efficient, safer and more convenient. We have a team of expert professionals who can provide the best pest control services to residents and business establishments all throughout the Carolinas. We will identify points of entry and make treatments as necessary. We only use state of the art equipment to keep up with these ever-evolving pests.
We bring in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can really make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.
Go-Forth Home Services has earned the trust of residents and businesses in North Carolina for more than 50 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.