By Patrick Baron
LIVINGSTON CO. – The Livingston County Health Department is urging people to be cautious in the warm weather when mosquitoes and ticks come out to have a bite.
Director of Environmental Health for the Livingston County Public Health Department Donnie Simmons told WJEZ’s Todd Wineburner mosquitoes can set up shop in a person’s yard if there is any amount of standing water.
“Mosquitoes are active, they’re out there, I’ve actually been trapping some. We know that people need to start taking precautions in terms of eliminating sources of breeding sites on their properties,” said Simmons. “Any standing water, it doesn’t have to be very much, will attract mosquitoes and they will breed and lay eggs and have future generations of mosquitoes.”
Simmons also noted a few cases of West Nile virus have been found in the state so far this year. He said while it may affect people differently, people should still be on the lookout for any of the diseases’s symptoms.
“It just depends upon your immune system and your age as to just how severe West Nile virus is and how it affects you,” Simmons explained. “Some people can have West Nile virus and they will barely even notice any of the symptoms. Some people, it will affect them for the rest of their lives, and some people even die from it. It is a very serious disease and we need to do everything we can to prevent mosquitoes on our properties.”
Mosquitoes aren’t the only bugs people should be wary of. Simmons said ticks are also out and about this time of year and people need to keep their eyes open for any ticks that might stick to their body.
“The same with mosquitoes, certain ticks carry certain diseases and so based on the type of tick that is found, we can offer the people that find it what illnesses they should be looking out for and what the symptoms are, so that if they start having those symptoms they can then go see a physician,” Simmons said.
Patrick Baron can be reached at patrick.baron@cumulus.com.
