Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, Minnesota’s other "state bird" has returned.

Wednesday, July 26, 2000

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, Minnesota’s other "state bird" has returned.

With a vengeance.

The recent floods and heavy rains have brought a deluge of mosquitoes to the Austin area.

What can Austinites do to protect themselves from these irritating pests?

According to University of Minnesota Extension Service educator Dave Quinlan: not very much.

"The problem is that the population of mosquitoes is so great, no matter what you do, it isn’t going to work," Quinlan said, "aside from breaking up their habitat."

The Minnesota Department of Public Health is going around and counting all the possible spots mosquitoes could breed to get an idea of just how large the population is.

Margene Gunderson, Mower County director of community health services, offered some suggestions, particularly useful to parents with young children, for avoiding unpleasant itching.

Reducing exposure to the pests is perhaps the best thing you can do, Gunderson said.

"Avoid children’s exposure, using less than 30 percent DEET," she said.

Chemical exposure is not good for your health; she stressed that parents should not use any of these products on infants.

For infants, Gunderson said to buy a special mosquito netting to fit around their stroller.

Locating such specially made nets in Austin is another story. Neither Target, Kmart or ShopKo carries them. Wagner’s True Value Hardware store has fiberglass window screen for 99 cents a foot that could be used like mosquito netting; also Hooch Hanson’s White Whale Fishing and Archery also has netting in stock.

Quinlan said that individuals should protect themselves all the time, no matter what they’re doing.

"If you’re going to go outside and doing things, you have to put on repellent," he said.

Wearing loose, light-colored clothing and avoiding perfume also help.

Keep your trees pruned and make sure the grass is mowed; any area with free air movement makes it harder for them to breed.

Gunderson had similar advice.

Because mosquitoes thrive in moist, wet areas, try to get rid of areas that contain free-standing water.

"If you can get rid of areas where water pools, do it," Gunderson said. "They like stagnant water."

If you’re planning to be outside at night, a prime time for mosquitoes, Quinlan suggests leaving off yard lights; sodium lights are the best because they don’t attract the little buggers.

A number of chemical options also are available at hardware stores to help combat the population. There are spray foggers, granules and electric- or propane-powered chemical heaters – all of which will put a damper on the immediate mosquito population.

While there may be an overly large population of the irritating pests around this season, both Gunderson and Quinlan stressed that they’re just that – irritating; there is no reason to be concerned about health risks.

The mosquito that typically carries encephalitis, the tree hole mosquito, is found in the Mississippi River valley.

Encephalitis is a rare infection that causes the brain to swell. Also known as "sleeping sickness," it results from an infection that can be caused by either bacteria, virus or fungus and is, in rare cases, transmitted by mosquitoes.

In areas like Winona, or parts of the city where the river runs through, there may be cases; here in Mower County, Gunderson said the mosquitoes are nothing but pests.

She has not heard of any cases this season; typically there are one or two.

Some symptoms include stiff neck, fever and fatigue; if diagnosed, individuals are treated for their symptoms, Gunderson said.

"They’re irritating to the point of being a nuisance, but they’re not the type to produce illness," she said.