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Health & Fitness

Another Summer Pest to Look Out For

Are you afraid of swarming cicadas?  How about black widow spiders or the hairy wolf spider?  Yes, each of these is found in New Jersey.  Among these, the black widow is the only poisonous one of the bunch.  In addition to these unwanted additions to our state, this summer may prove treacherous when the Asian tiger mosquito strikes.  It was first found in the United States in a shipment of used tires in Houston, TX in 1985.  Since then, it has spread across the southern US, and as far up the east coast as Maine. 

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has characteristic black and white striped legs, and a small black and white striped body, hence the name tiger.  It ranges in size from 2 to 10 mm with the males being smaller than the females.  As in most mosquito species, it is the female that feasts on different animals’ blood and it is the female that carries infectious blood-borne illnesses. This mosquito is quite hardy and can reproduce anywhere in which there is stagnant water.  It can range from the tiny amount of water in a soda bottle cap to that in an unattended pool and anywhere in between.  There are many naturally occurring predators including spiders, beetles, fungi and other mosquitoes, but Aedes albopictus can out compete and even eradicate some species of mosquitoes. 

 What makes it different from other species of mosquitoes is that it is an aggressive daytime feeder and is most active from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Although it can carry up to 20 vector-borne diseases, the one illness we have to be aware of in New Jersey is West Nile Fever.  While only approximately twelve West Nile Fever cases are identified each year in New Jersey, there is the potential for more cases since our past two winters have been too mild to kill the mosquito eggs and larvae. 

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Although most people infected with the virus (approximately 80%) remain asymptomatic, most who develop the disease have a mild form.  The incubation time is generally between 2 and 15 days and may result in flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and rash.  In less than 1% of cases, West Nile neuroinvasive disease is seen when the virus infects the central nervous system resulting in meningitis or encephalitis.

There is no vaccination for West Nile Virus and diagnosis is made through a thorough patient history and exam along with serological testing for antibodies to the virus.  The best prevention for this illness is to eliminate the breeding grounds for Aedes albopictus by removing all stagnant water and through pesticide spraying.  On a personal level, one can minimize being bitten by using an insect repellant containing DEET as high as 50% for adults and children older than two months old while outdoors.     

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