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

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET to exposed skin when you go outdoors. Even a short time outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite. The CDC has an excellent guide for choosing and applying insect repellent.
• Clothing can reduce mosquito bites. When possible, wear long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with a repellent containing DEET will give you extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin, and do not spray repellent containing DEET on skin that's covered by clothing.
• Be aware of the peak hours for mosquitoes. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak mosquito biting times. Consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times, or take extra care to use insect repellent and wear protective clothing during the evening and early morning.

Mosquito proof your home

• Drain standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in or near standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water. For examples of what to watch for, visit the CDC's West Nile prevention guide.
• 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 dead birds. Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area. More than 110 species of birds are known to have been infected with West Nile, though not all infected birds will die. By reporting dead birds to state and local health departments, the public plays an important role in monitoring West Nile. If you are a resident of Northern Kentucky, visit the Health Department's page on local monitoring. If you live in another area, you can visit the CDC's site for a guide to West Nile monitoring in your area.  

  Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention