Missourians battle mosquito infestations; our time is coming

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Editorials

June 4, 2019 - 10:18 AM

Cleanup efforts after a May 22 tornado in Carl Junction, Mo., are being hampered by swarms of mosquitoes, volunteers say. 

In addition to damage from the EF-3 winds, the area has been inundated with rain. The result is  lots of standing water, the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. It takes about 10 days for mosquitoes to breed, according to officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation, so the effects are bearing down hard on those trying to clear away debris from the tornado.

Besides being a pest, mosquitoes carry diseases, including West Nile Virus, Zika, Saint Louis encephalitis, and others. In early May, a resident of Tulsa tested positive for West Nile, a virus that is neuro-invasive and can take years from which to heal. 

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