Chikungunya

It sounds like a new restaurant offering but it isn’t. What chikungunya is, is one of the many viruses that the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board works to protect you from every day. Mosquitoes that can transmit these viruses include the Yellow fever mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. These mosquitoes are also present in Louisiana. Early detection of the symptoms and avoiding mosquito bites will help prevent the disease from spreading. You can learn more about the work of the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board in the link: http://www.nola.gov/mosquito/

At last night’s meeting in Faubourg St. John, Claudia Riegel, Director of the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board, spoke about the board’s dedication to safety and the scientific ways the New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board works to keep the citizens of New Orleans safe. Ms. Riegel emphasized that residents are encouraged to contact the NOMTCB to inspect standing water or with any other questions or concerns regarding mosquitoes, West Nile or Chikungunya viruses at (504) 658-2440 or email mosquitocontrol@nola.gov.

Chikungunya virus is transmitted to people by two species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Both species are found in the southeastern United States and limited parts of the Southwest; Aedes albopictus is also found further north up the East Coast, through the Mid-Atlantic States, and is also found in the lower Midwest.
People infected with chikungunya virus typically develop fever and joint pain. Other symptoms can include muscle aches, headaches, joint swelling or rash. This virus is not spread person to person. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for infection.
The best way to protect yourself and your family from chikungunya is to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, using air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside, and reducing mosquito breeding ground such as standing water.

https://fsjna.org/2014/08/fight-the-bite/

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The City of New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board (NOMTCB) has detected an elevated number of mosquitoes in the area, including the “southern house mosquito” which is the primary carrier of the West Nile virus. On Tuesday, July 8, 2014, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reported the state’s first human cases of West Nile virus of 2014 have been confirmed in Livingston Parish. At this time, no cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Orleans Parish.

The City is continuing to take proactive measures to protect citizens. NOMTCB has responded by going door-to-door treating and eliminating mosquito breeding sites, including abandoned tires, and applying insecticides by fog trucks and airplane. The City will continue these efforts throughout the summer. Residents should protect themselves from the mosquito borne diseases by reducing the number of mosquitoes around their homes.

SAFETY TIPS

Protecting Yourself

Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities when mosquitoes are active.
Use air-conditioning or make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.
If you will be outside for long periods of time, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
The CDC recommends using repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients including, DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
The CDC recommends always following the recommendations appearing on the product label when using repellent.
Visit: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html for more information.

Protecting Your Home

Reduce the mosquito population by eliminating standing water around your home, where mosquitoes breed.
Remove trash and clutter, dispose of discarded tires and other containers that can hold water and have accumulated on your property. Turn over wheelbarrows, plastic wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children’s toys or anything that could collect water.
Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed, such as pet dishes, bird baths and kiddie pools.
Rain barrels and other water collecting containers must be screened. Use collected water within one week.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.
Report illegal dumping, abandoned swimming pools and water leaks by calling 311.
Report unattended pools to 311.

Tires are ideal breeding sites for mosquitoes. Tires are easily filled with water by rain and collect leaf litter, providing an ideal “incubator” for mosquito larvae. Eliminating scrap tire dumps will eliminate a prolific mosquito habitat.

Residents can place up to four (4) tires weekly, stacked curbside, with their household trash in front of their properties.
Tires in front of abandoned lots will not be collected; they must be moved in front of a residence with curbside collection.

Citizens can also bring up to four (4) tires to the City’s Recycling Drop-off Center on the second Saturday of each month which is located at 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Drop-Off information can be found at http://nola.gov/sanitation/recycling/drop-off/ .

Residents should call 311 for information for collection of discarded furniture (including mattresses).

TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS

The State of Louisiana advises that anyone traveling abroad should also take precautions to protect themselves from mosquitoes in other countries. Mosquitoes in other parts of the world including the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Africa, or Europe might infect you with Chikungunya or dengue fever. For more information about these diseases, visit the CDC’s http://www.cdc.gov/Chikungunya .

Mosquitoes that can transmit these viruses include the Yellow fever mosquito and the Asian Tiger mosquito. These mosquitoes are also present in Louisiana. Early detection of the symptoms and avoiding mosquito bites will help prevent the disease from spreading.

If you travelled to the Caribbean or any other endemic areas of the world and present with symptoms, seek medical attention and avoid mosquito bites. Notify your physician of your travel history.

Residents are encouraged to contact the NOMTCB to inspect standing water or with any other questions or concerns regarding mosquitoes, West Nile or Chikungunya viruses at (504) 658-2440 or email mosquitocontrol@nola.gov.