While Springfield may be abuzz with mosquitos, health department says risk of illness is low

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

Springfield residents may find themselves swatting away more mosquitos during outdoor activities this week, according to a "mosquito forecast" by bug-spray brand OFF! However, their risk of getting sick is relatively low.

"Of the cases of mosquito-borne illnesses that have been reported to Springfield-Greene County Health, all were contracted due to travel. Therefore, mosquito-borne illnesses are not something most of us will have to worry about while in Greene County," said the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

The forecast combines knowledge of the mosquito's lifecycle, climate data inputs and mosquito population counts from VectorBase, a database funded in part by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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From Sunday to Wednesday, the site states Springfield will see a "severe" forecast.

A severe forecast means that "conditions have been perfect for (at least) the previous 14 days for mosquitoes to become active and breed, which means there are likely to be more of them," according to the site's FAQ. "Be sure to protect yourself before you leave the house and remember to re-apply protection the longer you are outside; ideally every couple of hours."

Of the more than 200 types of mosquitoes in the United States, only about 12 can spread disease, according for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. is the West Nile virus. Other illnesses include chikungunya, zika and St. Louis encephalitis.

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On their website, the health department listed some ways people can protect themselves from becoming a mosquito's next meal:

  • Stay indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

  • Use an EPA-approved insect repellent.

  • When sitting outdoors on a porch or deck, use a fan. Mosquitoes are bad fliers, and are easily blown away.

  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants outside.

  • Replace outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights that tend to attract fewer mosquitoes.

  • Make sure window and door screens are bug-tight.

  • Cover baby carriers and beds with netting.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Health dept.: Most mosquito illnesses contracted during travel