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System™
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Quick Fact #1
No other products or machines
on the market can kill as many mosquitoes or reduce mosquito populations
in a one-acre area as effectively or quickly as the Mosquito Killing
System™.
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Rift
Valley Fever
What
is Rift Valley Fever?
Rift Valley fever is an acute, fever-causing viral
disease that affects domestic animals and humans. Rift Valley Fever is most commonly associated with
mosquito-borne epidemics during years of unusually heavy rainfall. The disease is caused by the Rift
Valley Fever virus, a member of the genus
Phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae.
Where is the disease found?
Rift Valley Fever is generally found in regions of eastern and southern
Africa where sheep and cattle are raised. In September 2000,
a Rift Valley Fever outbreak was reported in Saudi Arabia and subsequently Yemen. These
cases represent the first Rift Valley fever cases identified outside
Africa. Rift Valley Fever virus primarily affects live stock and can cause disease
in a large number of domestic animals. The presence of an Rift Valley
Fever epizootic can lead to an epidemic
among humans who are exposed to diseased animals. The most notable
epizootic of Rift Valley Fever, which occurred in Kenya in 1950-1951, resulted in the
death of an estimated 100,000 sheep. In 1977, the Rift Valley Fever virus was detected in
Egypt
and caused a large outbreak of Rift Valley Fever among animals and humans. The first
epidemic of Rift Valley Fever in West Africa was reported in 1987 and was linked to
construction of the Senegal River Project. The project caused flooding in
the lower Senegal River area and altered interactions between animals and
humans resulting in transmission of the Rift Valley Fever virus to humans.
How
is Rift Valley Fever virus spread among animals?
An epizootic of Rift Valley Fever is generally observed during years in
which unusually heavy rainfall and localized flooding occur. The excessive
rainfall allows mosquito eggs, usually of the genus Aedes, to
hatch. The mosquito eggs are naturally infected with the Rift Valley Fever virus, and
the resulting mosquitoes transfer the virus to the livestock on which they
feed. Once the livestock is infected, other species of mosquitoes can
become infected from the animals and can spread the disease. In addition,
it is possible that the Rift Valley Fever virus can be transmitted by other biting insects.
How
do humans get Rift Valley Fever?
Humans can get Rift Valley Fever as a result of bites from mosquitoes and
possibly other bloodsucking insects that serve as vectors. Humans can also
get the disease if they are exposed to either the blood or other body
fluids of infected animals. This exposure can result from the slaughtering
or handling of infected animals or by touching contaminated meat during
the preparation of food. Infection through aerosol transmission of Rift
Valley Fever
virus has resulted from contact with laboratory specimens containing the
virus.
Rift Valley Fever virus can cause several different disease syndromes.
People with Rift Valley Fever typically have either no symptoms or a mild
illness associated with fever and liver abnormalities.
Approximately 1% of humans that become infected with Rift
Valley Fever die
of the disease. Case-fatality proportions are significantly higher for
infected animals. The most severe impact is observed in pregnant livestock
infected with Rift Valley Fever, which results in abortion of virtually 100% of fetuses.
There is no established course of treatment for patients
infected with Rift Valley Fever virus. However, studies in monkeys and other animals
have shown promise for ribavirin, an antiviral drug, for future use in
humans. Additional studies suggest that interferon, immune modulators, and
convalescent-phase plasma may also help in the treatment of patients with
Rift Valley Fever.
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Brochure
Read about our Mosquito Killing
System™
from NASA
Click Here
Quick Fact #2
Mosquitoes usually stay within 100
yards of their hatching site. Each mosquito caught is a female that can
lay 300 eggs. Every 1,000 mosquitoes eliminated, reduces the population by
300,000.
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CALL NOW
1.573.353.8021
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