The blood-suckers are back.
Experts say mosquitos are likely to be numerous in Delaware County this year. And for the first time, Deleware County will be spraying to keep the nuisance and danger to a minumum.
Health officials are paying particular attention to mosquito populations after the first cases of West Nile Virus in Indiana were found last year in birds and horses. The virus is carried by mosquitoes.
"We would anticipate that with the rain we've had this spring that we'll have a significant mosquito population," said Bob Jones, administrator of the Delaware Co. Board of Health.
But Jones said the weather could still change in ways that would limit the number of adult mosquitoes.
A cold front can put mosquito larvae into a kind of holding pattern, said Michael Sinsko, senior medical entomologist at the Indiana State Dept. of Health. Sinkso also said a lack of rain can dry up their breeding grounds.
Sinsko said that, so far, mosquitoes have not been as abundant state-wide as were first predicted.
"Because of all the rain, we've had lots of mosquito larvae, but there haven't been as many adults as we expected," he said.
Sinsko said this was do to changes in weather.
"Basically, we've gotten off to a good start," he said.
But lower state-wide mosquito populations do not necessarily mean relief for Muncie residents.
"Mosquito populations are local," said Robert Pinger, chairperson of Ball State's Department of Physiology and Health Science and director of the Ball State Public Health Entomology Laboratory. "It could be that here in Delaware County, we have a lot, and there aren't so many elsewhere. It is very hard to predict,"
Sinsko said severity depends on local atmospheric conditions, such as humidity and temperature.
"We would anticipate that you'll find [West Nile Virus] again this year," Jones said.
A human case has not yet been reported in Indiana.
West Nile causes an inflammation of the brain and brain stem. It begins with a fever, headache and stiff neck, but becomes more severe, Sinsko said.
Eventually it develops into neurological problems such as disorientation, dizziness or even coma.
"Before people reach that stage, they will be so sick that they will see a doctor," Sinsko said.
But he added that while a doctor would be able to ease the symptoms, the body has to fight the virus off on its own. There are no specific antibiotics to cure the disease. Many people survive West Nile, but some survivors suffer lasting neurological problems.
"In years like this, when we are pretty high alert for West Nile Virus, disease transmission could be a problem," Sinsko said. "The more mosquitoes you have around, the greater the risk that disease transmission will intensify."
Delaware County will spray areas where infected birds or open sewage are found, Jones said. In previous years, Delaware County did not have to equipment to do so. Jones said the chemical is not dangerous to human or wildlife, but is very effective at killing mosquitoes.
Sinsko said the best method for avoiding mosquitos is to go inside if you are bit. Failing that, he says he urges wearing protective clothing (long sleeves and pants) and mosquito deterrent, the most effective of which have a chemical called DEET as their active ingredient. It is also important to have good, tight screening on homes, he said.
Mosquitoes often breed in containers of standing water, such as rain gutters, tires, wading pools, bird baths and ornamental pools, Sinsko said.
"Anything that can contain water should be drained or rinsed twice a week," said Jones.
Jones said reducing the number of nearby habitats can significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes with which a person has to deal.
"Mosquitoes don't travel far if they don't have to to find a good meal," he said.
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