Watch out for mosquitoes, mold post-Fay

[Guest guest]

Watch out for mosquitoes, mold post-Fay

Originally posted on Thursday, August 21, 2008 by NBC2 News

WBBH - Fort Myers,FL*

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=21146 & z=3

TALLAHASSEE: The Department of Health is targeting mold and

mosquitoes in the wake of Tropical Storm Fay's drenching rains.

The department wants all Floridians to take some extra precautions

to protect themselves and their homes.

The abundance of standing water leaves a huge breeding ground for

mosquitoes, and local governments can't spray while it's still

raining and flood waters are still draining.

So the DOH has issued a list of ways - the " 5 D's " - to protect

yourself and your family from mosquito-borne illness such as West

Nile Virus:

Dusk and Dawn - Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking

blood. For many species, this is during the dusk and dawn hours.

Dress - Wear clothing that covers most of your skin.

DEET - When the potential exists for exposure to mosquitoes,

repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, or N,N-

diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) are recommended. Picaridin and oil of

lemon eucalyptus are other repellent options. If additional

protection is necessary, a permethrin repellent can be applied

directly to your clothing. Again, always follow the manufacturer's

directions.

Drainage - Check around your home to rid the area of standing water,

which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

You should also remove any standing water around your home that you

can.

TOXIC MOLD

If water has entered your home or business, the DOH warns you should

take measures to prevent toxic mold from causing indoor air quality

problems.

Mold can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions and continue to

damage materials long after the storm, according to health officials.

To guard against mold, the DOH recommends you:

Remove standing water from your home or office.

Remove wet materials.

If mold growth has already occurred, carefully remove or clean the

moldy material.

Consider using personal protective equipment when cleaning or

removing mold - gloves, goggles and an N-95 particle respirator

(found at most local hardware stores). Check with a health care

provider before wearing a respirator. Do not use a respirator if you

have heart disease or chronic lung disease such as asthma or

emphysema.

Individuals with known mold allergies or asthma should not clean or

remove moldy materials.

Never mix cleaners and disinfectants, since hazardous gases may

produce hazardous chemical reactions. Read and follow label

instructions carefully. Open windows and doors to provide plenty of

fresh air.

For more information about indoor air quality and mold growth,

contact your local county health department, the Florida Department

of Health's Indoor Air Toxics Hotline at 800-543-8279 or visit the

Department of Health Web site at www.doh.state.fl.us and

select " mold " from the subject list.