Longer, hotter summers and shifting weather patterns — fueled by a warming planet — are bringing about more than just sunshine and higher temperatures.
Mosquitoes are thriving earlier and later and are spreading to new areas as rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns create the perfect conditions for these pests to multiply.
Mosquito-borne illnesses, such as West Nile Virus, affect thousands of Americans each year, with the CDC reporting over 2,000 cases of West Nile alone annually.
They’re small, bloodthirsty, and sometimes even deadly. And you might not know as much about mosquitoes as you think. First, how many different types are there?
If you guessed 150, you’d be wrong. There are actually 3,700 types of mosquitoes!
True or false: Mosquitoes only spread disease in tropical climates? False!
“Now we’re starting to see them in other places,” said Dr. Desiree LaBeaud, a professor of pediatric infectious disease at Stanford University.
According to the CDC, diseases like West Nile and dengue fever have been reported in almost every state.
“The ones that spread dengue and chikungunya and Zika and yellow fever, really like it hot. So as the climate warms, they just are better and better at spreading disease,” LaBeaud said.
And it doesn’t take much for them to multiply. Just a single tablespoon of standing water can become a breeding ground.
“The dog dishes, the flowerpots, just that little bit of water can actually breed these mosquitoes and potentially make you sick,” LaBeaud told Ivanhoe.
So, how can you protect your kids?
Doctors say to drain outside standing water once a week, use EPA-approved insect repellent containing 20-30% DEET — there will be an EPA registration number on the back of the bottle — and also, wear protective clothing.
“You can wear long sleeves, long pants. If you notice a lot of dead birds around your neighborhood, that’s a signal that West Nile may be circulating, so contact your mosquito control board,” LaBeaud said.
If your child has a high fever, rash, or joint pain after a mosquito bite, see a doctor right away.
Symptoms of mosquito-borne illnesses can range from mild fever to severe brain infections. Parents should also check the EPA website to ensure their child’s insect repellent is safe and appropriate for their age.