These clothes will keep mosquitos away from you. Buzz60’s Keri Lumm has more.
An eastern Nebraska public health district has recorded its first West Nile virus death.
Terra Uhing, executive director of the Three Rivers Public Health Department, reported the death from the mosquito-borne virus Monday. Three Rivers serves Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties.
No other information, including the age and gender of the person who died, was available.
Most people exposed to the virus don’t get sick. About 20% become ill, and fewer than 1% experience serious illness that can lead to death.
Those who are older or have underlying medical conditions or depressed immune systems are at higher risk of severe infections.
People can reduce their risk of West Nile by taking precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitos.
Nebraska's first human case this year was discovered in July.
10 tips for treating mosquito bites‌
Wash area with soap and water‌
Once you’ve been bitten by a mosquito, wash the affected area to prevent infection and itchiness from occurring.
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Apply ice‌
Apply a cold pack, a handful of ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth or a bag of crushed ice for no more than five minutes to provide temporary relief.
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Apply honey‌
Honey is more than just a delicious sweetener for tea — its microbial, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it an effective home remedy for treating mosquito bites.
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Take an oatmeal bath‌
Like honey, oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties as well as saponins, which have cleansing properties. These features make oatmeal another effective option for treating mosquito bites. Grind up a cup or two of rolled oats in a blender until they’re powdery, and add them into a bath filled with warm water, rubbing any clumps of oatmeal onto the affected area.
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Apply anti-itch lotion or cream‌
When all else fails, you may experience relief from calamine lotion or a hydrocortisone cream. These lotions and creams are formulated specifically with the intention to relieve itching and irritation.
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Take an antihistamine‌
Because your body releases histamines when you’re bitten, an antihistamine, which lowers the histamine count in your system, provides relief from mosquito bites. Common over-the-counter brands include Claritin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. Calamine lotion also contains antihistamines that are applied topically.
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Create an ‘X’ over the bump‌
An efficient way to relieve itchiness from a mosquito bite is to use your fingernail to press across the bite for about 10 seconds, then repeat the process at a perpendicular angle across the bump. This will leave an X-shaped mark on top of the bite. This should only be used as a method for temporary relief from itchiness, as the itchiness will most likely return once the X fades.
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Avoid scratching‌
Scratching a bite can open up the wound and allow bacteria to enter, which may cause the wound to become more irritated or infected.
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