I don't want to get West Nile but like a PP said, in most cases it is non-critical.

If there was a vaccine I'd get it, but since there is not, I'll take precautions but don't want the county dousing us all with pesticides.

Anonymous wrote:I really have not noticed many mosquitos this year. Honestly. This is in Northern VA. . .so, I don't know where people have a ton of them? (?)

we are in Arlington and noticed earlier this summer that we didn't have many -- now it is really, really bad. my son was out in the yard the other night and got more than 20 bites in just a few minutes, and that was with some (poorly applied) OFF.

Anonymous wrote:So what do people do? I just saw a headline that this is the worst West Nile outbreak in the US since it was first detected in the US in 1999.

My yard is SWARMING with mosquitoes. My kid went in the backyard yesterday to pick blueberries off our bush and he came back with at least 7 bites after being out there only 20 minutes. So I'm told. I wasnt home at the time. We always buy the organic/natural bug spray but lately hubby has been using Deet products on himself. He spents a lot of time in the yard doing yardwork and gardening.

Here we go again with the news.

just like the "swine flu" that was killing everyone

My kids get bitten all the time. They're fine. In most cases, the W. Nile will only give you flu-like symptoms.

I really have not noticed many mosquitos this year. Honestly. This is in Northern VA. . .so, I don't know where people have a ton of them? (?)

Anonymous wrote:So what do people do? I just saw a headline that this is the worst West Nile outbreak in the US since it was first detected in the US in 1999.

My yard is SWARMING with mosquitoes. My kid went in the backyard yesterday to pick blueberries off our bush and he came back with at least 7 bites after being out there only 20 minutes. So I'm told. I wasnt home at the time. We always buy the organic/natural bug spray but lately hubby has been using Deet products on himself. He spents a lot of time in the yard doing yardwork and gardening.

Blueberries? Where do you live? Blueberry season ended in the DC area a long time ago.

Anonymous wrote:So what do people do? I just saw a headline that this is the worst West Nile outbreak in the US since it was first detected in the US in 1999.

My yard is SWARMING with mosquitoes. My kid went in the backyard yesterday to pick blueberries off our bush and he came back with at least 7 bites after being out there only 20 minutes. So I'm told. I wasnt home at the time. We always buy the organic/natural bug spray but lately hubby has been using Deet products on himself. He spents a lot of time in the yard doing yardwork and gardening.

Frankly, we aren't going outside much right now, but when we do, we use DEET, have the Tiki torch and Citronella candles going, etc. We're thinking about getting those machines that attract mosquitos and evaporate them. It would work well in our small backyard. I'm an organic gardener who won't spray my yard but I agree that the "ECO" bug sprays don't do anything. It's just a waste of money.

So what do people do? I just saw a headline that this is the worst West Nile outbreak in the US since it was first detected in the US in 1999.

My yard is SWARMING with mosquitoes. My kid went in the backyard yesterday to pick blueberries off our bush and he came back with at least 7 bites after being out there only 20 minutes. So I'm told. I wasnt home at the time. We always buy the organic/natural bug spray but lately hubby has been using Deet products on himself. He spents a lot of time in the yard doing yardwork and gardening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is getting ridiculous. Use OFF? Chemicals straight on the skin, numerous applications a day? Yeah, it washes right off-- down the drain to the city water supply.

DEET is the only repellent that works. City water supplies don't have problems removing this miniscule amount of DEET from washing it off your skin. Go rub some natural poison ivy on your crotch or something.

You know, we have to take measures that are realistic. I'm sure that if we end up with a TX style outbreak here, people will relax on spraying. But just blanketly spraying when the chances of infection are MINISCULE is hysterical and unnecessary. And even though I maintain my yard and garden organically (rarely if ever even using the "organic" pesticides), it doesn't mean I'm not going to cover my kid in DEET to keep him from being eaten alive. I don't like it, but I also don't like him being cooped up inside all summer. That doesn't mean I'm gonna call Orkin to poison my yard, though.

city has no problems treating the industrial stuff either so whats your point?

Anonymous wrote:This is getting ridiculous. Use OFF? Chemicals straight on the skin, numerous applications a day? Yeah, it washes right off-- down the drain to the city water supply.

DEET is the only repellent that works. City water supplies don't have problems removing this miniscule amount of DEET from washing it off your skin. Go rub some natural poison ivy on your crotch or something.

This is getting ridiculous. Use OFF? Chemicals straight on the skin, numerous applications a day? Yeah, it washes right off-- down the drain to the city water supply.

And if you're scared of using products with DEET (though the pediatricians actively recommend doing so), you can try using Arbonne "awaken" body mist, which works well to keep mosquitos from biting, though you have to (a) order it online through an Arbonne consultant and (b) apply it often/liberally.

Anonymous wrote:PLEASE, please do not spray your yard, or pressure the local government to spray your areas for mosquitos. There are links to cancer, asthma, ADD, Autism from pesticide use. Pesticides get in our water supply, our food, animals and environment. They don't just stay in one place. You don't not want your kids playing in pesticides. Just use OFF on yourself and your kids and it washes off at the end of the day.
Wear light colored clothing, avoid going out at dusk and wear long sleeved shirts and pants.

+1

PLEASE, please do not spray your yard, or pressure the local government to spray your areas for mosquitos. There are links to cancer, asthma, ADD, Autism from pesticide use. Pesticides get in our water supply, our food, animals and environment. They don't just stay in one place. You don't not want your kids playing in pesticides. Just use OFF on yourself and your kids and it washes off at the end of the day.
Wear light colored clothing, avoid going out at dusk and wear long sleeved shirts and pants.