The attractiveness of different persons to the same or different species of mosquitoes varies substantially. In general, adults are more likely to be bitten than children, although adults may become less attractive to mosquitoes as they age. Men are bitten more readily than women. Larger persons tend to attract more mosquitoes, perhaps because of their greater relative heat or carbon dioxide output.

"Encephalitis" means an inflammation of the brain and can be caused by bacteria and viruses, including viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. West Nile encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by West Nile Virus (WNV), a virus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. It is closely related to St. Louis Encephalitis virus, also found in the United States.

Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on virus infected birds. The West Nile Virus may circulate only a few days in a bird. After an incubation period of 10-14 days, infected mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans or other animals. Disease symptoms do not develop in everyone that is bitten by an infected mosquito. Records from last summer's disease outbreak in New York City showed that elderly and physically weak people were more likely to develop symptoms.

It is not known how long the virus has been in the U.S., but Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists first detected it in the eastern U.S. during the summer of 1999.

Transmission comes through the bite of a mosquito (primarily the Culex species) that is infected with the West Nile Virus. The virus is located in the mosquito's salivary glands. The virus cannot be transmitted from person to person. You cannot get the disease from birds.

Culex is a fresh water species of mosquito. West Nile Encephalitis and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are most prevalent in fresh water mosquitoes. There are very few of these at Fire Island National Seashore. Also, culex mosquitoes are a "backyard" mosquito. According to Dominick Ninivaggi of Suffolk County Vector Control "The mosquito species that carries West Nile doesn't fly much further than a few hundred feet from its water source."

The vast majority of mosquitoes you encounter are salt marsh mosquitoes. Salt marsh mosquitoes can carry encephalitis, but it is rare. The National Park Service has captured and tested hundreds of thousands of mosquitoes at Fire Island since 1982 and none has ever been found to be carrying encephalitis.

There is no vaccine for the West Nile Virus at this time.

There is no documented evidence that an infection caused by the West Nile virus present additional risk to the non-born child of a pregnant woman.

All National Park Service areas are working in cooperation with their federal and local mosquito management and health agencies. At Fire Island National Seashore, the National Park Service, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control, Suffolk County Vector Control, and New York State and Suffolk County health departments, is carrying out active site specific monitoring and surveillance programs at Fire Island. The surveillance activities will make possible early detection of the virus if it returns in 2000. Samples of live mosquitoes are routinely checked at state laboratories for the presence of West Nile Virus. Positive mosquito samples will be used to trigger activities designed to decrease mosquito populations and the habitat in which they multiply. This may include pesticide spraying.

Yes, under certain circumstances, native species such as mosquitoes are managed to decrease populations such as when a public health emergency has been declared. The localized application of larvacides and adulticides for the management of native mosquitoes is allowed but must be approved by the Director of the National Park Service in Washington. The 2000 National Park Service Management Policies states that pests may be controlled "to manage a human health hazard when advised to do so by the Centers for Disease Control or to otherwise protect against a significant threat to human safety." The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Public Health Service have not indicated that there is a significant threat human safety on Fire Island.

Until there is a health risk declared by the CDC, the application of pesticides may be a greater health threat to the public than the mosquitoes. We do take numerous other steps to help prevent the spread of disease before there is a health emergency.

What are the benefits of mosquitoes?

Benefits are in the eye of the beholder. Everything in nature occupies an important place. From most public stand points mosquitoes don't have much use. However, mosquitoes pollinate flowers, and provide an important food source for a wide range of creatures such as fish, turtles, frogs, birds, and bats. It is also important to remember that pesticides kill almost all insects and many other organisms they contact. This includes butterflies, mites, ladybugs, and other insects that pollinate flowers, remove detritus from the ecosystem, digest feces, and all the other important functions we depend upon insects to perform in the environment.

Mosquito activities increase at dawn and dusk. Be aware of mosquitoes if you're out during these times.
Help eliminate temporary mosquito habitat and stagnant fresh water (flowerpots and buckets, stopped-up rain gutters, discarded cans, etc.)
Learn about mosquitoes. Avoid going into heavy mosquito areas at dusk. Do not wear cologne or perfume, smells that may attract mosquitoes.
Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, a hat, and gloves can provide increased protection from mosquitoes.
The use of an insect repellent on clothes or sparingly on exposed skin can decrease encounters with mosquitoes. A repellent with 20% to 30% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) as the active ingredient works the best.

Check on the web at http://www.cdc/ncidod/dvbid/arbor/ or call your local public health office.