Baton Rouge residents need to take precautions against increasing populations of mosquitoes that may grow with the current wet-weather conditions in the area.

“If the rainy days continue like it has in this part of the spring, we will probably have a good population of mosquitoes,” said Randy Vaeth, biologist from the East Baton Rouge Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control office.

That is not necessarily bad news since not all mosquitoes are harmful. But some mosquitoes can carry viral infections that can be dangerous and lethal to animals and humans. For instance, last year there were 124 human cases of West Nile virus in Louisiana with eight deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, Arizona and New Mexico have already reported human cases of West Nile virus.

West Nile virus can lead to different types of encephalitis, and is passed from birds to mosquitoes and from mosquitoes to humans and other animals. Symptoms can include high fever, head and body aches, confusion, muscle weakness and dehydration. Experts say medical help should be sought immediately after symptoms appear.


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