DO YOUR PART TO PREVENT THE WEST NILE VIRUS
The West Nile Virus is spread from the
bite of an infected mosquito and affects birds, horses, humans, and some
wildlife. Other forms of mosquito-borne disease include St. Louis and LaCrosse;
Venezuelan, Eastern and Western encephalitis affect horses.
Symptoms
of West Nile Virus and other forms of encephalitis may be mild or severe. Mild
symptoms may include headache, fever, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph
glands. Sever symptoms are more likely to be experience by those over 50 years
of age and include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation,
coma, tremors, convulsion, paralysis, or death.
Avoid Being Bitten by
Mosquitoes
- Wear
light-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants and socks with shoes. This
clothing will protect you from mosquito bites.
- Keep windows
and door screens fixed and closed to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
- When possible,
stay indoor during the early morning (dawn) and late evening (dusk). This is
when mosquitoes are feeding.
- Keep away from
places where there are a lot of mosquitoes.
- Cut high weeds
around your house. Mosquitoes rest in tall weeds.
Drain Water Where Mosquitoes Grow
- Throw away
things around your home that hold water. Mosquitoes live in pop cans,
buckets, bottles, old tires and old flowerpots.
- Turn over
things that fill up with water, such as barrels, kiddie pools and
wheelbarrows.
- Change water in
birdbaths every week.
- Drill holes in
flowerpots or old tires, to prevent standing water.
- Clean rain
gutters.
- Clean ditches
so water can flow and fill holes that hold water.
- Clean and
chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. Check for trapped water in
plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. and arrange the tarp
to drain the water.
Spray-When You Have To
- Yourself-Use
repellents that contain DEET. Follow the directions on the label.
- Your Family-On
Children , use products that have no more than 10% DEET. Follow the
directions on the label.
- Your
neighborhood-When many infected mosquitoes are present, local mosquito control
agencies may decide that spraying is needed to keep WNV from spreading and
making people sick.
For
more information contact Corrie Holthaus at the Darke County Health
Department 937-548-4196, extension 205. Or, visit the following websites.
Center for Disease Control West Nile Info
West Nile Virus Facts
Environmental Division
Home Page
Page last updated:
2/9/2006