Southern Nevada Health District kicks off mosquito surveillance activities
Mosquito Monday event held to raise awareness of mosquito activity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 10, 2018
LAS VEGAS – Each year the Southern Nevada Health District reports cases of mosquito-borne illnesses and the positive disease results from its county-wide mosquito surveillance activities. This year, the Health District is kicking off its surveillance season with “Mosquito Monday,” an event on Monday, May 14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. to raise awareness of mosquito activity and to encourage the public to “Fight the Bite!”
The Mosquito Monday event will feature demonstrations of the Health District’s mosquito surveillance equipment, truck-mounted foggers, and more. Staff will be available to provide prevention tips, mosquito fish, and informational giveaways for the public.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported on the increase we are seeing in illnesses caused by mosquito and tick bites in the United States,” said Dr. Joe Iser, Chief Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “We want to urge people to be proactive and protect themselves from the mosquito activity we know occurs every year in our community.”
Mosquitoes in Southern Nevada have been found with viruses that cause West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis. West Nile virus cases are more commonly reported than St. Louis Encephalitis cases. Most people who become ill experience mild or even no symptoms at all; however, some people will get the more serious form of the illness. Last year the Health District reported one case of West Nile virus in Clark County. The case occurred in a male over the age of 50 who had the neuroinvasive form of the virus. The individual later died from the disease. There were two reported West Nile cases and three cases of St. Louis Encephalitis in 2016.
In addition to the mosquitoes that can transmit West Nile virus and St. Louis Encephalitis, the Health District identified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Clark County last summer. This is the species that can spread diseases like Zika, dengue fever, and chikungunya. To date, no mosquitoes have tested positive for the virus. Travel-associated cases of Zika virus have been reported in Clark County residents, as well as one case that was sexually transmitted.
To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the Health District recommends eliminating standing water around your home and reporting mosquito activity to its Mosquito Surveillance Program at (702) 759-1633.
Additional prevention tips include:
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or 2-undecanone.
- Wear pants and long-sleeved shirts to reduce mosquito exposure when outdoors.
- Eliminate areas of standing water around your home, including non-circulating ponds, “green” swimming pools, and accumulated sprinkler runoff, which support mosquito breeding.
More information can be found on the CDC’s Prevent Mosquito Bites webpage.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.