What's the hot new disease being touted by the media? It's the Zika virus ... and it's transmitted by mosquitoes.
Uh oh. Summer is en route. Mosquitoes, too.
Well, no. The mosquitoes that will soon be buzzing Camp Whitcomb, don't harbor the Zika virus. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not a single person has gotten the virus from a mosquito in the contiguous U.S.
Foreign countries are different. Zika virus is a danger if you travel to Mexico, the Caribbean and some South American nations. Tropical mosquitoes in these areas carry the virus. More than 350 "travel-related" Zika cases have been reported in the United States, where people returned from a foreign country after being infected.
The glaring peril of Zika virus is its connection to severe birth defects, including brain damage. Pregnant women, or those planning to become pregnant, should be especially careful about foreign travel.
Otherwise, Zika virus disease isn't fatal. It does have some undesirable symptoms – fever, rash and joint pain. So, if Zika comes up in conversation this summer, rest easy. Like malaria and dengue fever, it's borne by tropical mosquitoes that don't frequent Camp Whitcomb, southeastern Wisconsin or northern Illinois.
Just like mosquitoes love woods, though, we aren't out of the woods regarding mosquito-transmitted illness. West Nile virus, which appeared in the United States about 15 years ago, is a threat. In the Camp Whitcomb area, Illinois had 72 cases reported in 2015. Wisconsin had nine.
Camp Whitcomb local mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus. Its danger to people varies. In the vast majority of cases, an infected person has no symptoms.
About 1 in 5 infected people displays fever and other symptoms: headache, body pain, vomiting and rash. Most recover completely.
Yet, a sliver of those infected develop serious neurologic illness, and can even die. People over sixty are at maximum risk. With Camp Whitcomb summer activities nearing – pool parties, family gatherings, the 4th of July and others – it's worth considering how to defend yourself and others from the West Nile virus.
Guarding against mosquitoes, period, decreases the chance of running into one (or more) carrying West Nile. A mosquito repellent treatment by The Mosquito Guy keeps mosquitoes away for 30 days. We travel to Camp Whitcomb and throughout southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
Prices start at just $125 per application. It's a small expense to pay for peace of mind regarding West Nile ... and the peace of no mosquitoes buzzing around your ears. Call 262-521-1258, request a mosquito control quote or e-mail margie@themosquitoguy.com, to schedule an application for your Camp Whitcomb yard.
Zika virus isn't a concern here. Other mosquito-borne ailments are. The Mosquito Guy will ensure that you, and those you love, are protected from all.