Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 17:17:52 -0600

To: ABCD distribution , NMSU hotline

 

Health and Safety Reminder - Protection from Mosquitoes

In view of the heavy rains and recent news of a human case of West Nile Virus in Dona Anna County, Environmental Health and Safety wish to remind all the NMSU Community (employees and students) of the potential risk of disease from mosquitoes.  In addition, NMSU has been asked by the New Mexico Department of Health to ensure that the campus community is informed on the risk and protection from the West Nile Virus, a mosquito transmitted disease.

Compared to river and wetland areas, the campus has very few mosquitoes; however, NMSU is fogging and using larvicide in campus ponds to further minimize the local mosquito population.  Recent announcements on the fogging locations, times, and materials have been distributed to all faculty, staff and students, and additional information is available from the OFS Ground Department at 646-5957.


ACTIVITIES
* Avoid outside activity at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

STANDING WATER:
* Control mosquitoes from breeding by eliminating standing water around buildings and home.
* Clean out outside drains, canales and gutters so water doesn't accumulate and serve as mosquito breeding areas.
* Maintain drainage ditches so they do not clog and breed mosquitoes.

REFUSE CONTAINERS:
* Eliminate uncovered refuse containers and junk piles where water can collect and mosquitoes breed.

SCREENS AND CLOTHING
* Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens in good repair and are closed.
* Wear long pants and long sleeved shirts and apply insect repellent when outside.

INSECT REPELLENT USE
* Only adults should apply repellent on children.
* Only apply repellent to exposed skin and clothing. Do not use repellent under clothing.
* Do not apply repellent over cuts, wounds, sunburn or irritated skin.
* Spray repellent on your hands in order to apply it to your face. Don't apply repellent to your eyes or mouth.
* Wash off repellent daily and reapply as needed.

INSECT REPELLENTS PRODUCTS  (information from NMDOH)
* For longest lasting protection from mosquito bites, use insect repellent products with no more than 20 -30% DEET for adults (less than 10% for children 2 to 12 years old).
* If you don't use DEET, products containing soybean oil or eucalyptus oil have been found to be effective, but must be applied more often because they do not repel mosquitoes for as long as DEET.
* Products containing Skin so Soft or citronella were not shown to be as effective, lasting on average about 20 minutes or less.  

Additional information and web resource links have been posted in the Safety News section of the NMSU safety website (http://www.nmsu.edu/~safety ). 

Please print and post this memo for employee and student information.
Thank you

David Shearer, Industrial Hygienist  
Environmental Health & Safety
646-3327