With fall approaching, cooler temperatures typically bring out more outdoor activities and with that comes more incidents of West Nile virus (WNV) infections.
WNV is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States and is most commonly spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of WNV occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall. There are no vaccines to prevent or medications to treat WNV in people.
You can reduce your risk of WNV by following the Four Ds of Protection:
- DRAIN standing water around the home
- Use insect repellent containing DEET
- Avoid being outdoors at DUSK/DAWN
- DRESS to protect yourself with long sleeves and pants
Fortunately, most people infected with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
Website: Mosquito Control at Home and in the Yard (tamu.edu)
Website: www.cor.net/mosquito
