Fight the Bite: Avoid Infection by Mosquitoes

Three ways to reduce your West Nile virus risk

1. Avoid mosquito bites
2. Mosquito-proof your home
3. Help your community target places where mosquitoes breed

How to avoid mosquito bites

• Be aware that mosquitoes are most active at dawn, dusk and early evening. Stay inside during these times if possible.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors.
• Spray exposed areas of skin and clothing with repellents containing permethrin, DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), picardin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
• Don’t forget your pets - Dogs and cats also are susceptible to diseases, such as WNV and other illnesses spread by mosquitoes. Pet owners should use a veterinarian-recommended mosquito and tick repellent. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.

Mosquito proof your home

• Survey property for areas of standing water.
• Dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the containers for more than two days.
• Install or repair screens. Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside with well-fitting screens on both windows and doors.

Help your community

• Clean up. Mosquito breeding sites can be everywhere. Neighborhood clean up days can be organized by civic or youth organizations to pick up containers from vacant lots and parks and to encourage people to keep their yards free of standing water. Mosquitoes don't care about fences, so breeding sites anywhere in the neighborhood should be targeted.
• Report swimming pools that are neglected and in a state of disrepair to the Health Department.