Personal Prevention
The only treatment available for West Nile Virus (WNV) is PREVENTION.
Because WNV can cause such a debilitating illness in 20% of
those infected, and no treatment is currently available, everyone
should take certain precautions to prevent being bitten by
mosquitoes.
Personal Prevention: The following precautions should be
taken when mosquitoes are most active (June through September)
to help reduce the risk of being infected with WNV:
Remember the four D’s:
DEET:Use insect
repellant that contains at least 10% DEET.
If outside during evening, nighttime, and dawn
hours, consider the use of an insect repellant
containing 10% to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-
methyl-meta-toluamide). Products with
concentrations around 10% are effective for periods
of approximately two hours.
- Use DEET according to
manufacturer's directions.
- In addition: DEET is not recommended for children under
2 months of age.
- Do not apply DEET directly to children, and
do not apply it to children’s hands. Apply to
your own hands, then put it on the child.
- Apply DEET sparingly on exposed skin; do
not apply under clothing.
- Do not use DEET over cuts, wounds, or
irritated skin. Wash all treated skin and
clothing after returning indoors.
For more information
about DEET:
Dress: Dress
in long sleeves and long pants. If outside
during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours when mosquitoes are
most active and likely to bite, children and adults should wear
protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and
socks.
Dusk and Dawn: Reduce or
eliminate outdoor activity between dusk and dawn.
Drain: Make sure to drain standing
water around your home.
- Remove all discarded
tires from your property.
- Dispose of tin cans,
plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar
water-holding containers.
- Make sure roof gutters
drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the
spring and fall.
- Clean and chlorinate
swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. If
not in use, keep empty and covered.
-
Drain water from pool
covers.
- Change the water in
bird baths at least once a week.
- Turn over plastic
wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
- Eliminate any standing
water that collects on your property.
- Remind or help
neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their
properties.
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