How Can I Prevent West Nile Virus Infection
Fight
The Bite!
Reduce
your risk of West Nile Virus during outdoor activity
Protect
From Dusk Until Dawn
That is when mosquitoes that carry the virus are most active,
so take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
Use
Repellent with DEET From Dawn Until Dusk
- Use mosquito
repellents that contain DEET* when doing any outdoor
activity between dusk and dawn. (Follow the label
instructions carefully.)
- For adults,
use repellents containing up to 35% DEET. (Concentrations
higher than 50% do not provide additional protection.)
- For children
2 months–12 years, use repellents containing
up to 10% DEET. Do not put DEET on children’s
hands or feet.
- For children
under the age of 2 months, do not use DEET.
- Consider
wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants for additional
protection.
Take
Cover
Wear protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts and
long pants while outdoors.
Use
mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened
structure and to protect small babies any time.
Remove
Standing Water
Drain standing water, since that's where mosquitoes lay
eggs. This includes tires, cans, puddles, barrels, etc.
West
Nile virus is rare, but if you have symptoms including
high fever, severe headache and stiff neck, contact your
health care provider immediately. Though anyone can be
infected and become ill, severe illness or death is more
common in people over age 50.
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