Combating West Nile Virus is a Concern for Government and Ho

(ARA) - West Nile Virus is a growing threat that infected 4,156 Americans and caused 284 deaths last year alone. Local health officials are in a race to discover effective methods of containing the disease that flies on the wings of a tiny predator -- the common mosquito, Culex pipiens.

There is no cure for West Nile virus and currently there is no vaccine for humans. Health experts say prevention is the best response for now, beginning with control of the disease-carrying mosquitoes. Most strategies call for a combined approach, requiring both governments and individuals to do their part.

A Difficult Problem

The problem is a daunting one. Mass spraying of insecticides, a tactic employed in many communities during the height of mosquito season, destroys only adult mosquitoes. It does nothing to kill the millions of larvae waiting to hatch when conditions are right. Additionally, spraying can be harmful to non-target species such as butterflies, birds and, according to some experts, humans.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to develop better, more ecologically friendly ways to destroy mosquitoes where they breed.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, especially marshy wetlands. However, mosquitoes cannot breed in the moving water of lakes, streams, rivers, and spring-fed ponds, which often lie adjacent to these wetlands. In fact many species of fish and other wildlife that thrive in these environments actively eat mosquitoes and their larvae.

To give Mother Nature's mosquito-control efforts a boost, the Forest Service and many local governments are stocking lakes and ponds with species of fish known to be especially fond of mosquito larvae. Currently half of all mosquito abatement districts nationwide use fish to control the mosquito population.

Homeowners Can Help

Homeowners too can play a role. Mosquitoes can breed in a miniscule amount of stagnant water. Homeowners should inspect their yards for standing water that can become mosquito breeding grounds. Things to look for include old tires, kiddie pools and toys, birdbaths and even stopped up drains and gutters -- anywhere stagnant water may collect. Swimming pools should be vigilantly maintained and properly chlorinated.

Surprisingly, not all water in the backyard is a bad thing. Water gardening is an increasingly popular hobby in the United States and many people have installed decorative backyard ponds in their yards. Ed Beaulieu, an ecologist for Aquascape Designs Inc., the nation