Are you a mosquito magnet? I know that I am. My husband and I can sit on the deck for half an hour, and he won’t have a single bug bite. I, on the other hand, will be covered with little red itchy bumps wherever I’ve neglected to use bug repellent. It got so bad that we finally bit the bullet and invested in a screened in porch. It’s West Nile virus season here in Indiana, and it can be serious, folks. Now, who’s to blame for this virus?

I’m hoping it won’t be politicized this year. I mean, it’s been around forever, and no one ever tried to blame it on the Democrats or Republicans. But that could change this fall. When the wildfires started in California, I predicted it would be politicized. Never mind that California has always been prone to wildfires. What if they have an earthquake? Will that be politicized? It seems like any human pestilence or apocalyptic scale disaster can be blamed on the president, governor, congress, senate, or the local mayor. . No one ever thinks about blaming Mother Nature or The Good Lord.

Who's to blame for this West Nile Virus. Will the media politicize it?

Who’s to blame for this virus? Will the media politicize it?

West Nile Virus infections occur mostly between June and September. That means we’re still not out of the woods. WNV disease is the most commonly reported mosquito-borne disease in Indiana and in the United States. Symptoms begin to appear about 3 to 14 days after infection. They include fever, stiff neck. headaches, rash, disorientation, swollen lymph nodes, vision problems, seizures and fatigue. Before you get too worried, you should know that most cases are mild and go away within a week or so. Encephalitis only occurs in about 1% of the cases.

Is this beginning to sound familiar? We’ve been hearing that most cases of Covid-19 are mild. If you’re like me, you know of someone who had symptoms that lasted less than a day. But the media focuses only on the most serious cases. That makes it easier to politicize.

I once worked with someone who was out for several months with WNV that went on to encephalitis. When it hits home like that, you become more aware of the dangers, and also more apprehensive. I’ve never really lost my fear of West Nile Virus. . But you can’t stay indoors all summer in fear of mosquito bites. Our local health departments do everything they can to inform us about ways to stop mosquitoes from breeding. But in the end, who’s to blame for this virus?

The last summer holiday always brings a twinge of sadness, because we know that fall is coming, and it’s time to get down to business. And yet, we look forward to family celebrations and lavish picnics. But stop and think before the big day. Beware of these 5 Labor Day Pitfalls.

1. Weight control. It’s possible to gain 2 or 3 pounds over the holiday, depending upon how many picnics or family gatherings you attend. The major culprit here is mayonnaise. What is a Labor Day picnic without deviled eggs and potato or pasta salad? Or without brownies or some other absolutely delicious dessert. Here’s a caloric breakdown of a typical picnic meal , assuming you have just one serving of each item.

Potato Salad 160

Baked Beans 124

Deviled Egg half 64

Hot Dog with Bun 272

Chocolate Brownie 112

And that’s not counting beverages. Have a can of beer, and add 154 calories

Labor Day Picnics can cause weight gain — A picnic in the park may have 1,000 to 2,000 calories

So, you’re consuming close to 1,000 calories. If you have second helpings, or an extra beer, You could be consuming 1, 500 to 2,000 calories in just that one meal.

2. Traffic . Labor Day has a high number of automobile, motorcycle and boat accidents. Drive safely, and be especially careful at intersections.

3. West Nile virus. Mosquitoes carry it, and if you’re out in the woods, you are at risk. There are no vaccines to prevent the disease. The best defense is to wear lots of insect repellent.

Mosquito bites are the cause of West Nile virus — Mosquitoes carry the West Nile;Virus and a bug bite could be dangerous

4. Labor Day sales: Could put a dent in your wallet. The newspaper is full of tempting advertisements, and it’s hard to resist driving to the mall, Kohls, TJMax or wherever you can get major markdowns. But before you go, take a look at your closet and go through your dresser drawers. Do you really need another white blouse or pair of jeans? Where are you going to put all those new shoes when you barely have room for the ones you have?

5. Loneliness: Seniors, especially, are apt to be forgotten over Labor Day. Children and grandchildren are preoccupied with starting school, and may have no time for out of town grandparents. Many elderly folks live alone. Most have fond memories of past labor Day holidays, but their friends or siblings have passed away. If you’re going to be alone, try to get out of the house. Go to a movie and eat popcorn, take a picnic to the park, or splurge on a nice meal at a good restaurant.

And remember, it’s just one day. Tomorrow it will all be over.

Tag: West Nile Virus

WHO’S TO BLAME FOR THIS VIRUS?

Is this beginning to sound familiar? We’ve been hearing that most cases of Covid-19 are mild. If you’re like me, you know of someone who had symptoms that lasted less than a day. But the media focuses only on the most serious cases. That makes it easier to politicize.

Beware of 5 Labor Day Pitfalls

The last summer holiday always brings a twinge of sadness, because we know that fall is coming, and it’s time to get down to business. And yet, we look forward to family celebrations and lavish picnics. But stop and think before the big day. Beware of these 5 Labor Day Pitfalls.