West Nile Virus

LittlePowderPuff

I'm sooo freaked out about this. Especially because they are saying it is now becoming an epidemic. I live in Michigan where there is already 80 confirmed cases and I love to spend time outside especially in the evening.

Since I've gotten pregnant I've been getting mosquito bites like crazy. I read in WTEWYE that mosquitos think pregnant women are "extra delicious" (for various reasons) which is why we are prone to get bit more.

Anyone else freaked out? Any percautions you are using?

Sprite2012

Are you spraying yourself with mosquito repellent?

Also, quinine when consumed is a natural mosquito repellent.  Quinine is found in tonic water.  I have no idea if quinine is safe to consume during pregnancy (definitely talk to your care provider before you drink it).  I have used it for years while traveling, backpacking, and camping - especially in South America.  It works! 

joliebebe

I live in Louisiana where mosquitoes come with the territory. You can't go outside without being assaulted by them, and we've been having the West Nile virus for as long as I can remember.. as far back as 7-10 years ago. I've never been too worried about it, it's a rare thing to have and more likely if you're constantly outside. One of the coaches at my high school 7-8 years ago died from it, but again, he was a coach, and was outside for hours upon hours upon hours, likely without any repellent. Then a recent case in town a couple weeks ago was a man who had a lake in his backyard and would go out every day, until night, to fish.

I have a couple of misquitoe bites right now.. but really, you're more likely to catch pertussis or swine flu than WNV.

Edit: I'm not a doctor, but I'm going off personal experiences. I've known far greater people with whooping cough or swine flu than WNV. And the second man in my post, the fisher, caught his WNV early, got treatment, and is perfectly fine now.

QuintonsMummah

I may be one of the lucky ones that the mosquitoes do NOT like. I may have had a dozen or so bites in my entire life.

We have a Triple E warning around us, but I'm not too worried about it. 

kbl13

I've just been using an all-natural insect repellent that I found at target: All Terrain Kids Herbal Armor - and it seems to work well. It's basically just made up of citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, and cedar.

shutupanddance07

I've also been using some all natural for kids crap. It helps, but it doesn't do as well as those nasty chemicals do. DH hired a company to spray our lawn with baby and animal safe stuff, and we installed a bat house in a tree in our yard. I've been avoiding outside a good bit in the evenings though, because despite these efforts, I still get bit like crazy. I'm not as much worried about WNV as I feel like I'm uncomfortable enough without being covered in itchy welts. I hate stupid mosquitoes...

gnomemom

It does make me a little anxious. We just had the first West Nile related death in our county, and the conditions have been ripe for mosquitos. I emptied or turned over all of the planters or things in our yard that might collect water and attract mosquitos. I haven't gone outside too much recently, but when I do I do seem to get bitten a lot.