“This is the time of year to be extra careful when outdoors in the early morning and evening,” said
Kenneth Palestrant, M.D., founder of Physicians Immediate Care. “The recent rains have produced a bumper crop of mosquitoes that can carry a variety of illnesses, including the West Nile Virus and St. Louis encephalitis.” So far this summer, there have been 21 cases of mosquito borne illnesses in Florida and one death, a 64 year old Jacksonville woman who died after being bitten by a mosquito with West Nile virus. Two cases of Dengue Fever have been confirmed in Martin County in recent weeks.
Physicians Immediate Care reminds residents that there are a number of things you can do to help avoid mosquito bites and control the number of mosquitoes in and around your home.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips:
- When possible, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors.
- Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.
- Use an insect repellent containing DEET to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes.
- Spray clothes with repellent containing permethrin or DEET for extra protection. (Don’t apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under your clothing.)
- Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning, or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
- Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors.
- Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
- At least once or twice a week, empty water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans.
- Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water, such as old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, or bottles.
- Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out.
- Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as under brushes or under your home.
- Neighborhood clean-up days can be organized by civic or youth organizations to pick up containers from vacant lots and parks, and to encourage people to keep their yards free of standing water.
If you are bitten by mosquitoes and have an allergic reaction, Physicians Immediate Care urges you to seek medical assistance immediately. “If an area becomes inflamed, red and itchy, it is a good idea to come into our clinic and have it checked. Odds are it is nothing serious, but it is better to err on the side of safety,” recommended Dr. Palestrant.
Physicians Immediate Care measures its success through patient satisfaction and extraordinary care.
Physicians Immediate Care also offers employers professional services for
workers compensation,
routine exams, and
drug testing. Physicians Immediate Care provides a convenient, cost effective alternative to emergency rooms and doctor’s offices from offices at 1900 SE Port Saint Lucie Boulevard, 4007 SW Port Saint Lucie Boulevard in the Paar Center, 5550 South US Highway One, Ft. Pierce, and now open in Saint Lucie West at 1730 SW St. Lucie West Boulevard. Physicians Immediate Care provides prompt medical attention, with no appointment necessary, Monday through Friday 08:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 08:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For additional information call (772) 343-1774, or visit their website at
www.immedcare.com
