What should I do to avoid becoming infected?

As with any other "vector" borne disease, the best defense is to keep from being bitten if at all possible. Keeping mosquitoes out of the house by maintaining screened windows and doors is very important. Avoiding outdoor activities in the early evenings, if possible, also will help you to avoid the times of high mosquito activity. Since keeping kids indoors on summer evenings is next to impossible, they should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if at all possible, and any exposed skin should be coated with mosquito repellent. Repellents with an active ingredient called DEET have been shown, consistently, to be the most effective.

You also should take a critical look around your own property, and determine what sites you are allowing that could breed mosquitoes. Since mosquito larvae need to live in water you should empty any containers that do not need to have water in them;

• Cans, buckets, yard decorations, dog water buckets, barrels, garbage cans
• Discarded tires!! - these are a huge source of mosquitoes, since they are so hard to empty. If they cannot be removed from the property and recycled properly, then try to drill holes in them to allow the water to drain out.
• Clogged roof gutters, potted plant containers, etc.
• "Tree Holes" - some of the most common sources of mosquito larvae, and thus adults, is holes in trees where a branch broke off or trunks come together. These holes need to be emptied of water, filled with sand, or drained by drilling a hole from below.

If you have ponds or other permanent water bodies on your property you can call the local Mosquito Control Agency and see if they can provide mosquito fish for your pond, or treat the water with a biological material that will kill the mosquito larvae. This agency is variously referred to as the Mosquito and Vector Control District, Mosquito Abatement District, or simply Mosquito Control Agency. Your local County Health Department also may have "vector" specialists in their Environmental Health office.

West Nile Virus is a problem, and not one to take lightly. It rapidly is spreading its area of concern as birds spread their territories, carrying the virus with them. However, compared with many other risks in our lives the risk from severe problems from this virus is small. Understanding the disease and its biology and ecology can be important in helping to prevent your risk from it.

One of the important protections you have available is the Professional Pest Control Industry in your area. These are licensed, educated individuals who have access to equipment and materials that may be applied to reduce mosquito populations on your property. A call to them also could provide you with an experienced person who can inspect your property to offer suggestions on steps you can take to reduce the possibility of raising mosquitoes on your own property. West Nile Virus is an important problem, and these technicians are likely to have had some training on the topic at their professional meetings and conferences.

For some very thorough internet sites that cover virtually every aspect of West Nile Virus you might click on the following Internet address:

http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/2188/wnf.html

It offers links to dozens of other sites, including Centers for Disease Control, state Departments of Health, mosquito management agencies, etc., all discussing West Nile Virus with the most current information.