WEST NILE VIRUS
Avoid Mosquito Bites to Avoid Infection:
When
dealing with West Nile virus, prevention is your best bet. Fighting mosquito bites reduces your risk of
getting this disease, along with others that mosquitoes can carry. Take the commonsense steps below to reduce
your risk:
· Avoid bites and illness
¨
Apply
Insect Repellent Containing DEET to exposed skin when you go outdoors. Even a short time being outdoors can be long
enough to get a mosquito bite.
¨
When
possible, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing,
so spray clothes with repellent for extra protection.
¨
Be
aware of peak mosquito hours. The hours
from dusk to dawn are peak mosquito biting times for many species of mosquitoes. Take extra
care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning
hours—or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
· Clean out the mosquitoes from the places where you
work and play
¨
Drain
standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed
by getting rid of items that hold water.
¨
Install
or repair screens so mosquitoes cannot get indoors. Keep them outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows
and doors.
· Help your community control the disease
¨
Report dead birds
(crows and blue jays only) to local authorities. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus
is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area.
Something
to remember: The chance that any one person
is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest
for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill.
For
more information, visit www.cdc.gov/westnile
References: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/prevention_info.htm
05/16/05