With a warmer climate year-round compared to most of the country, it’s only natural that mosquitoes would be bad here in the South. But 2018 is shaping up to be a banner year for mosquitoes in South Carolina, much worse than usual.
West Nile virus, the most commonly transmitted mosquito-borne disease, was detected in birds in Spartanburg County in late August, and a person in Greenwood was confirmed to have been infected with WNV around the same time. As officials keep finding more and more dead birds to have had West Nile virus in Spartanburg, Greenwood, and elsewhere, one can safely assume that more mosquitoes are picking it up and then transmitting it to humans.
The tricky thing about West Nile virus, however, is that only about 1 in 5 people who are infected with it show any symptoms, which means that it’s safe to assume it goes undiagnosed in the majority of people. Symptoms of WNV include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Many mosquito-borne illnesses show the same symptoms, which makes it even more confounding. While most people fully recover, about 1 in 150 cases become serious, and it can be fatal if it spreads to the central nervous system. Persons over 60 years of age are of greater risk of developing more serious cases, as are those who have had organ transplants and/or have compromised immune systems.
As of September 10, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) confirmed that thus far in 2018, there has been seven confirmed human cases of WNV and one person in Greenville has died.
As if the threat of West Nile virus weren’t enough, the heavy rains from Hurricane Florence and the flooding left behind has awoken and hatched the dormant eggs of “mega mosquitoes” called gallinippers, which are nearly 20 times the size of a “normal” mosquito. While gallinippers haven’t been found to carry any mosquito-borne diseases, they’re very aggressive and their bites are extremely painful.
So, yes, you could say that it’s been a pretty good year for mosquitoes, but that also means a pretty miserable year for humans. The good news is that if you’re looking for some protection and relief, Mosquito Squad is the #1 choice for mosquito control in Spartanburg SC, Greenwood SC, Florence SC, Sumter SC, and surrounding areas. Our signature barrier treatment will eliminate nearly 90% of mosquitoes in your yard and keep them away for up to three weeks — guaranteed.
Nobody deserves to get West Nile virus or any other illness from a mosquito, and nobody deserves the painful bite of a “mega mosquito,” especially in their own yard. We can help. For the most effective mosquito control in Spartanburg-Greenwood, give us a call. We look forward to helping you!