What is West Nile?
West Nile Virus is a disease that is spread by infected mosquitoes.
How do I protect myself against West Nile Virus?
The best defense against the virus is protecting yourself with repellant and not giving mosquitoes a place to lay eggs or develop.
- Use DEET up to 30%
- Wear long sleeves and pants
- Drain standing water
What can I do around my home to prevent mosquitos?
- Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers that have collected on your property. Pay special attention to discarded tires. Stagnant water in tires is where most mosquitoes breed.
- Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers left outdoors.
- Have clogged roof gutters cleaned regularly (spring & fall), particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains. Roof gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.
- Turn over plastic wading pools and wheel barrows when not in use. Don't let water stagnate in birdbaths. These provide breeding habitats for domestic mosquitoes.
- Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use. A swimming pool left untended by a family on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood wide complaints. Mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on pool covers.
- Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that collects on your property. Mosquitoes may breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.
When is West Nile Virus season and how can I help check for activity?
Surveillance season, to include mosquito trapping and dead bird testing runs May thru October.
Reporting of dead birds is a good way to check for West Nile virus activity in the environment to allow implementation of prevention and control measures to minimize the spread of the virus. West Nile is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. The infected birds, especially crows, are known to get sick and die from the infection. In turn, the mosquito can pass the virus to humans. Only one type of mosquito, the common Culex variety, carries the virus.
Who can I call to have a dead bird tested?
Citizens may call WCDHD at (308) 696-1201 ext. 261 to report a dead bird.
