My county has become one of the countries "hot spots" for eastern equine encephalitis. A 20 yr old died, not 5 minutes from my house, a mosquito tested positive for it in the area we go kayaking and now a horse in my town has just died from it. They are doing arial spraying Tuesday night and that's scary too. I have a brook in my backyard and we are surrounded by wetlands and woods so I am afraid to let the kids go out. All athletic fields have been closed and I am really hoping when I go to work tomorrow at school they will insist on inside recess only for the kids. I really hope we get a frost soon...

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 02:16 pm:

I understand your concern, Colette. We have to worry about that a lot. Down here, they spray regularly for mosquitoes, and of course, living practically in the swamp, the entire area is a breeding ground. Several years many people were sick from mosquito bites - encephalitis one year, West Nile most recently. The only think I can suggest is to wear repellant when you are outdoors, and hope for your early frost.