Osage Nation Emergency Management - MOSQUITO CONTROL

Osage Nation Emergency Management wants everyone to have a safe and fun summer, but always keep safety in mind.

One may not think an insect bite is much to be concerned about, but mosquitoes are carriers of West Nile Virus. The warm months of May through September are good times for mosquitoes to breed, and with all the recent rains in Osage County this is going to increase the number of insects.

MOSQUITO CONTROL

Information from Tulsa Health Department (THD) says “you can help reduce the mosquito population by following a few simple steps”:

Dump out all standing water.This includes tires, flower pots, toys, bird baths, buckets, etc.
Keep swimming pools clean and free of stagnant water.
Change the water in birdbaths and flower pots at least two times per week.
Refresh your pet’s water bowl daily.
Eliminate tall grass, weeds, vegetation and other mosquito resting places.
Fill in holes or eliminate the water sources where mosquitoes may be breeding.
Stock ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish.
Encourage neighbors to eliminate mosquito breeding and resting sites on their property.
Cover unused pools and/or hot tubs and make sure that the covers don’t hold water.
Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens in good repair.
Clean clogged gutters and/or slopes to downspouts.
Screen rain barrels, openings to water tanks and any other water storage containers.

West Nile Virus as described by THD reports that it “is a flu-like virus that can be spread through infected mosquitoes. Anyone living in an area where West Nile virus is present in mosquitoes can get infected; however, most people who become infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. When symptoms do occur they usually appear 3 to 14 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito. The symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Long-lasting complications can include difficulty concentrating, migraine headaches, extreme muscle weakness and tremors, and paralysis. Contact your health care provider if you develop these symptoms after suffering mosquito bites within the previous two weeks.”