Mosquito surge fuels heartworm cases
FLIGHTS THIS YEAR. KIRBY SAYS
ON TIME PERFORMANCE SHOULD GET
BETTER. THANKS TO INCREASE
STAFFING, SOMETIMES EVENT HAD
EVENTS HAVE CONNECTIONS YOU
MIGHT NOT EXPECT. AND THIS IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE ARE IN THE
MIDST OF HURRICANE SEASON AND
NEW TROPICAL THREATS ARE
SWIRLING IN THE ATLANTIC AND
STORMS TO BRING SOME HIDDEN
DANGERS FOR PETS, INCLUDING
SPIKES IN CASES OF DEADLY
PARASITES, WRAL, CLIMATE CHANGE
REPORTER LIZ MCLAUGHLIN
EXPLAINS
>> WHEN STORMS HIT, IT'S NOT
JUST PEOPLE WHO NEED A PLAN.
>> VETERINARIANS SAY PETS CAN
BE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE FROM
LOST ACCESS TO CARE ALL THE
WAY TO INCREASE RISK OF HEART
WORK.
>> BEFORE CHELSEA WAS ADOPTED,
SHE SURVIVED A LIFE-THREATENING
HEART WORM INFECTION. IT'S A
PARASITE. IT SPREAD THROUGH
THE BITE OF MOSQUITOES, DR.
JESSICA NOLAN WITH BANFIELD
PET HOSPITAL IN RALEIGH SAYS
CASES OFTEN CLIMB AFTER MAJOR
STORMS WHEN FLOOD WATERS CREATE
PRIME BREEDING GROUNDS FOR
MOSQUITOES. WE'VE GOT WARM AIR.
WE'VE GOT HUMIDITY.
>> WE'VE GOT STANDING WATER
WHERE THEY DIDN'T USED TO BE
STANDING WATER AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS IMPACT OUR MOSQUITO
POPULATIONS AND THEREFORE RISK
OF HARM SPREAD THE TREND IS
MADE WORSE BY CLIMATE CHANGE,
HOTTER TEMPERATURES AND HEAVIER
RAINFALL ARE FUELING LONGER.
MOSQUITO SEASONS AND MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFECTION.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS SEASON
HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. IT
REALLY IS ALL YEAR LONG.
>> AND WE ARE SEEING CHANGES.
NORTH CAROLINA ALREADY RANKS
AMONG THE TOP 10 STATES FOR
HARD WORK. SHELTERS LIKE THE
SPCA OF WAKE COUNTY SAY STORM
PREP FOR PETS CAN SAVE LIVES.
A PIT PREPARED FOR THEM WITH
PREVENTATIVE.
>> I WANT PREVENTATIVE THEIR
FOOD WATER. ANY MEDICATIONS,
PHOTOS, HEART WORM CAN BE
STOPPED BEFORE STORMS HIT WITH
A MONTHLY PILL OR A ONCE A YEAR
INJECTION FROM A VETERINARIAN.
>> THE BEST PROTECTION, A PLAN
AND PREVENTION. THAT'S
RECOMMEND KEEPING A PET.
GO BAG, READY AND KEEPING UP
WITH PREVENTATIVE CARE