How to Prevent West Nile Virus
By: Source: AARP Bulletin Today Date Posted: 2003-07-28 09:38:38
The best way to avoid the virus is to avoid being bitten by disease-bearing mosquitoes (most mosquitoes don't carry the virus, but you can't be too careful).
From the onset of warm weather until the first fall frost, consider these measures:
- Use insect repellents outside, especially at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Compounds containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) are considered the most effective in keeping the bugs away from you.
- When you go outdoors, wear a hat, long sleeves and long pants. Be sure you protect your hands, face, neck and ankles.
- Place screens over all doors and windows.
- To discourage mosquito breeding, remove standing water from gutters, animal water dishes, flowerpots, discarded tires, birdbaths and buckets. (In Connecticut, leaving standing water is against the law and has led to arrests.)
- If your city or county doesn't spray widely against mosquitoes, urge your public health department and government officials to make it a priority.
Animal control agencies in some states will check dead birds reported by citizens for evidence of infection.
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