Warm Winter Brings a Microscopic Killer.

    Better stock up on bug spray this summer and avoid swampy areas as scientists anticipate a rise in mosquito born illnesses.  A warmer winter usually means more mosquitoes, but with a one of the warmest winters seen in Minn the risk of mosquito born illnesses is a very real problem for this summer.  The first generation of mosquitoes to hatch during the summer begin to feed on birds and as population grows in mid summer mosquitoes shift their feeding to mammals.  Cold winters often delay this shift because the weather kills off more larva during the winter, but with such warm weather the population should be booming.   Making the shift from bird to mammal early in the spring or summer.  This early shift could very easily increase the risk of the mosquito born illness such as eastern equine encephalitis which kills 30% of its victims, leaving most survivors with brain damage.  While the disease is uncommon it affects both horses and people.  There have been three recorded cases in MN history.