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When a human contracts West Nile virus, it can lead to serious illness, permanent brain damage, and sometimes death.

How to Protect Yourself
Although mosquitoes are most active at dusk or dawn, some bite during the day. Mosquitoes will bite if you enter an area where they are resting, such as high grass or heavy underbrush. While it is not necessary to limit outdoor activity (unless there is evidence of mosquito-borne disease in the area), you can and should reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes.

Common sense steps you can take to minimize the probability of infection include remembering the 5 'D's of West Nile Virus prevention.

The Five 'D's of West Nile Virus Prevention

DAWN DUSK DRESS DRAIN DEET
When possible, stay indoors at dawn. When possible, stay indoors at dawn. Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time or when mosquitos are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitos away from the skin. Reduce the amount of standing water in or near your property by draining and/or removing it. Mosquitoes lay eggs in areas with standing water.

Click here for more information and tips on reducing the amount of standing water in or near your property.

 Use an insect repellant containing DEET. Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET because mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

Click here for more information on DEET.

Other Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Family
  1. Install or repair screens for windows and doors that stay open, so mosquitoes cannot get indoors.
  2. Place mosquito netting over infant carriers when you are outdoors with infants.
  3. If you know specific mosquito control problems or problem areas, call Johnson County Public Health at 684-2564.

You can learn more about mosquito control by following these links:
Bad Skeeter
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Tips for Reducing Standing Water on Your Property

  1. Repair failed septic systems.
  2. Check and repair screens on windows and doors.
  3. Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water-holding containers.
  4. If possible, remove old or discarded tires on your property. Used tires have become the most common mosquito breeding site in the country. If you cannot dispose of old tires, you can drill  holes in them to allow standing water to drain.
  5. For containers that must remain on your property, such as bird baths and wading pools, change the water at least once per week.
  6. Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.
  7. Repair leaky water pipes and outside faucets.
  8. Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with predatory fish.
  9. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools even if they are not being used.
  10. Keep drains, ditches, and culverts free of grass clippings, weeds, and trash so water will drain properly.
  11. Remove all leaf debris.
  12. Drill holes in the bottoms of all recycling containers that are kept outdoors.
  13. Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall to remove leaves or other debris that may clog the drains or gutters.
  14. Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.
  15. Clean vegetation and debris from the edge of ponds.
  16. Drain water from pool covers.
  17. Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property.

Back to the five 'D's

More about DEET

  1. Products containing DEET must be used properly. When Using DEET, be sure to read and follow instructions on the label to avoid excessive use and over-application. In most circumstances, products with 10 to 35 percent DEET provide adequate protection for adults.
  2. Apply sparingly to exposed skin, and only then if the label permits.
  3. Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing.
  4. Do not spray DEET directly on the face. Instead, spray repellent onto the hands and use them to apply it to the face. Remember to avoid sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth, and nasal membranes.
  5. Do not apply DEET over cuts, wounds, irritated skin, or under clothing.
  6. To find out if you have a reaction to DEET, apply the repellent to a small area of an arm or leg before general use.
  7. Avoid spraying repellents on plastic (such as watch crystals and eyeglasses), synthetic fabrics, leather, or painted or varnished surfaces. Spraying DEET on these things may cause damage.
  8. Do not spray DEET repellents in enclosed areas as the spray mist is not meant to be inhaled.
  9. Upon returning indoors, wash any treated skin with soap and water.
  10. Wash any DEET treated clothing before wearing them again. DEET products usually repel mosquitoes for several hours. However, repellents are effective only at short distances from the treated surface, so you may still see mosquitoes nearby. As long as you are not being bitten, there is no need to apply more repellent. Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin.
  11. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better - just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection. Choose a repellent that provides protectionf or the amount of time that you will be outdoors. Products with 10% to 35% DEET will provide adequate protection under most conditions.

Back to the five 'D's

DEET and Children

  1. Use repellents with lower concentrations of DEET (10% or less) when applying to children.
  2. Do not allow children to apply DEET repellent themselves.
  3. Do not use DEET on infants.
  4. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines suggest that if a repellent containing DEET is used on children under 2 years of age, only one application per day should be used.

Back to the five 'D's

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 Services

Immunization Center

Parent Support Center

Flu Protection Center

Family Planning Center

Education Centers

Hantavirus Awareness

Summary of Diseases

For more information about West Nile virus, including mosquito control, local efforts, and educational materials, please contact us at our Buffalo office.