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West Nile Virus and Mosquitoes Come to New York

According to Candice Ferrette on the Lower Hudson Valley “To Your Health” blog, the mosquito population has recently tested positive for the West Nile virus, a potentially lethal virus for certain at-risk groups, in Rye, New York.

With the arrival of the height of summer heat and the occasional torrential rainstorm, the standing pools of water created by a deluge can create a breeding for the biting mosquitoes who can carry the West Nile virus. In Arizona recently, the virus claimed its first victim of the year – a woman in her 80s.

Back in Rye, the first mosquitoes to test positive in Westchester County in upstate New York, Rye, were first reported on July 22.

So far, no human cases have been reported in the county, but according to “To Your Health,” area health department officials warn residents to remain vigilant regarding possible breeding grounds for the potentially, virus-infected mosquitoes and recommends that residents take the following precautions:

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Staph Infections or Spider Bites?

Wash Your Hands! (photo from the CDC)

It’s not always spider bites that are creating the little bumps some patients see on their arms and legs according to the Abilene Reporter-News. In fact, it could be something more troublesome.

The article indicates that the apparent bug bites are sometimes a serious staph infection known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Like we had enough to worry about with all sorts of bug bites and spider bites occurring at this time of year?

Interestingly, MayoClinic.com says most staph infections occur at a hospital or in a health care facility which could be a nursing home or even a dialysis center. So, it would seem this isn’t something you get while lying at home.

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Wasp Stings: Linkage for a Hot July

Andy Murray, a tennis player, was distracted by the fact his border terrier, Maggie May, was stung by a wasp while preparing for a match with Rafael Nadal. (Mirror, UK)

National Pest Management Association reports that wasps sting humans who are near nesting sites… so, don’t go near nesting sites! Also…
– As wasps likes sweets. Do not leave your sweets out.
– Close your windows and doors and make sure they’re properly sealed.
– Make sure you’re garbage isn’t open outside – seal it.
– Taking a swinging at an insect can result in a sting for you. Be careful.
– Get medical help if you’re stung. Allergic reactions can be severe.

There’s a type of mite out there that wasps use as bodyguards to prevent other wasps from attacking their growing family. It turns out the wasps are being eaten alive by the mites. (Science News)

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Bee Stings: Weekend Linkage on Bees

In an odd accident on the New Jersey Turnpike over the weekend, a beehive fell off a truck on to the pavement and killed most of the bees inside. Often bees are transported in their hives along the Eastern Seaboard to assist in agriculture projects such as cross-pollination of crops.   This time it didn’t work out. (Philly.com)

Bee stings can cause anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. (Tribune Media Services)

Killer bees were discovered in Evangeline Township, Louisiana. According to the Daily World, killer bees were responsible for 11 deaths in Texas in the past 15 years. (Daily World)

Crows and bees are fighting out in Tokyo.  Who knew bees could fly as high as crows. (Inventor’s Spot)

Cross-pollination efforts have become focused toward native bees rather than rented honeybees.  (Macon.com)

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Antiperspirant May Stop The Itch from Mosquito Bites

According to the Kirkwood-Webster Journal in the St. Louis metro area, antiperspirant may be all one needs to bring down the intensity of the itch from your latest summertime bug bite.

Dabbing a bit of your favorite roll-on on to the afflicted bite area seems preposterous at first. Why would something that normally keeps one from sweating be effective in stopping the itch?

Dr. Ken Haller, a SLUCare pediatrician, explains that when the mosquito bites the skin our body reacts by pushing more fluids toward the affected area which, in turn, ends up further irritating the mosquito bite, for example. If you use an antiperspirant – rollon’s are recommened by Haller – the bite won’t get sweaty and therefore is less irritated.

“The inflammatory response ends up being worse than the thing it’s trying to fight against,” Haller said. “Our body kind of overreacts.”

The doctor goes on to say that you probably don’t want to put the roll-on chemicals on your face or hands because of the aluminum in the roll-on.

Other great tips from Haller for avoiding mosquito bites include:

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Tarantulas Bites Are Not Your Normal Spider Bites

The tarantula has always been a scary spider for many.. It didn’t help that the furry spider was featured in many horror flicks way back when. As you can see from the photo though, is there really much to fear? Yes and no…

Photo by Eggybird

The name “Tarantula” originally came from unrelated wolf spider species in Italy. In this recent article, the nearly 850 species of tarantula spiders are docile unless they get a little scared and decide they need to defend themselves. Moreover, the article states that not only are the bites not life threatening to humans – unless you have an allergic reaction to the protein the spider injects while biting – but they are very treatable.

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Wasp Stings Hurt – Keep From Getting Stung

Courtesy of CDC

Childhood memories don’t lie. Wasp stings are very painful right from the moment the little winged intruder puts his needle into one’s arm. Ouch. For some reason, as I’ve grown older, I have been able to avoid more wasp stings (let’s hope I didn’t just jinx myself).

So what are a few ways to keep from getting stung?

Stay away from where they live – If you have a hive near your home, or worse, in your home, stay away from it until either you get a professional exterminator to come take care of the wasp or bee nest, or, you feel sufficiently prepared to take it on (you be the judge.). Check out the video of the guy below who took on a nest in his backyard… seems to me he spent a lot of spray on that nest.

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Mosquitoes Swarming in Texas

Courtesy of KOSA

Well, that’s no fun.

According to KOSA, West Texas has swarms of mosquitos bothering inhabitants.

There’s a helpful suggestion in the article that I’ve never heard before: use Listerine as a mosquito repellent. I feel like I have been one of the few among my friends that still uses Listerine, but now it works for mosquitos too?

Great.

Multiple mosquito bites on my legs causing endless hours of itching are absolutely annoying as I’m sure anyone would agree. And, the “attractive” red spots from the bites are hardly welcome. Of course, it could be worse. One could get West Nile Virus.
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Bed Bugs Bites: My 5 Tips on Prevention

Courtesy of IDPH

Bed bugs are a cause for concern even if you don’t have them in your bed.

If you’re in an apartment building that has one resident afflicted with bed bug infestation, it’s possible that the infestation could spread to other apartments over a matter of months or even weeks.

What can you do make sure bed bugs don’t happen to you?

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers but here are 5 tips on keeping your bed bug free. If you have more tips, please let us know!

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Sand Flea Bites

Sand Flea Bites

Wow… never had an insect bite or bites like this – especially in the East Village of New York City. This is my foot a week after sand fleas had a party on me. No doubt the fleas of the Florida Keys are well fed in that certain others including Supa-stah and her sistah have been afflicted.

Even stranger is that the insect bites did not appear until a week later. I’m in shorts today and have “after bite” ammonia medication.

Follow Up, A Month Later:

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