With recent rains, mosquito season ‘just getting started’

Heavy rains over the past few weeks mean more mosquitoes to come.

Those pesky bugs are considered one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet because of mosquitoes’ ability to spread deadly diseases like West Nile Virus and Chikungunya.

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so experts says it’s important to drain places where water sits still, like bird baths, planters, dog dishes and gutters.

“In that water there’s no natural enemies like fish, frogs, toads and other insects that feed on them,” said Jeff Whitworth, extension specialist in entomology at Kansas State University.

Whitworth said the warmer the temps, the less time it take for mosquitoes to grow. He said the ideal temperature for mosquitoes, much like for people, is around 72 to 75 degrees.

“As it rains this week and next week, and stays warm, we’re going to see a proliferation of mosquitoes and they need a blood meal,” Whitworth said. “They’re just getting started.”

Chris Steward, epidemiologist for Sedgwick County, said the height of West Nile Virus cases hit in August or September. Only one case of West Nile was reported last year in Sedgwick County, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Steward said 80 percent of people with West Nile won’t show any symptoms, 20 percent will show flu-like symptoms and less than 1 percent will show severe symptoms.

For travelers, Steward advises extra precaution for mosquito-transmitted diseases like Chikungunya and Dengue.

But Steward said it’s hard to tell whether the recent rain will bring more mosquitoes, or more West Nile cases. Regardless, she says, “wear insect repellant, long sleeves and long pants to protect yourself.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 7:35 PM with the headline "With recent rains, mosquito season ‘just getting started’."