BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC – July 11, 2024 – The Buncombe County Public Health Department encourages residents to take precautions to prevent bites from mosquitoes that may lead to serious illness. Mosquitoes thrive during the hot and humid summer months. However, summers have been hotter and longer than in prior years. Therefore, mosquito season is longer.
Most mosquito-borne diseases reported in North Carolina and Buncombe County have been acquired from travelling outside the continental United States. Some of these illnesses are malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Travelers who develop symptoms like fever, aches, pains, nausea, vomiting, and/or a rash should see a health care provider and mention their recent travel.
In the United States, mosquitoes can infect people with West Nile virus and dengue virus. West Nile virus was first reported in the U.S. in 1999. It has been found in every continental state. According to the CDC, there have been 15 cases in the U.S. including nearby Tennessee so far this year, but none in North Carolina. Dengue is a potentially fatal disease. There have been twice as many cases of dengue in the Americas during the first half of 2024 compared to all of 2023. The illness is so prevalent in Puerto Rico that a health emergency has been declared. Cases of locally acquired illness have been historically reported in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. However, travel-acquired dengue has been reported this year in many states including North Carolina.
To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases:
- Use repellant containing DEET when outside. Be extra-cautious with children.
- Children must be 2 months and older
- Only use once a day
- Use a low concentration
- Wear long sleeve clothing to cover skin surfaces
- Clothing and gear can be treated with permethrin
- Use air conditioning indoors or repair window screens
- Remove any standing water from the yard and community to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, some examples are birdbaths, plastic pools, and flowerpots.
- Eliminate tree holes, another place for mosquitoes to breed
- When traveling to areas where mosquito-borne disease is common, consult with your health care provider and check-out the CDC website at cdc.gov/travel.
If you need more information about preventing mosquito-borne illness, you may contact the B.C. Communicable Disease clinic at 828-250-5109.
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org