Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Summer may be waning, but don’t put that bug spray up just yet.
The Knox County Health Department is warning about a mosquito born infection; it’s already sent six kids to the hospital. Despite kids being back in school, the health department says the La Crosse virus is still a concern.
“We think school is back and so we’re done with summer, but the mosquitos aren’t,” said Dr. Corinne Tandy with the Knox County Health Department speaking with WOKI news partner, WVLT. “So, we often see mosquito season reaching into that late summer through August through September until the temperatures really start cooling down in October.”
Health department officials say there are typically no symptoms of the virus but those who do get sick experience fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.
KCHD officials say the best way to avoid a La Crosse infection is to prevent or reduce mosquito bites. La Crosse is spread by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, which bites primarily during dawn and dusk in wooded areas.
The department recommends people also:
- Use insect repellents.
- Treat clothing with repellents
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if working in grassy areas and cover strollers/baby carriers with mosquito netting
- Control the mosquito population in your yard by reducing standing water on the property
- Once a week, turn over items that hold water, such as swings, buckets, toys, and flowerpot saucers
