Fight the Bite!Fight the Bite!

Avoid Mosquito Bites to Avoid Avoid Mosquito Bites to Avoid Infection Infection

Presentation GoalsPresentation Goals

By following the steps outline in this By following the steps outline in this

presentation, you will be able to:presentation, you will be able to:

• avoid bites and illness; avoid bites and illness;

• clean out the mosquitoes from the clean out the mosquitoes from the

places where you work and play; places where you work and play;

• help your community control the help your community control the

disease. disease.

Something To RememberSomething To Remember

The chance that any one person is going The chance that any one person is going

to become ill from a mosquito bite remains to become ill from a mosquito bite remains

low. Most people who are infected with the low. Most people who are infected with the

virus will not develop any symptoms at all. virus will not develop any symptoms at all.

The risk of severe illness and death is The risk of severe illness and death is

highest for people over 50 years old. highest for people over 50 years old.

14

1

22

87

21

0

5

10

15

20

25

Number of Cases

State

Number of West Nile Cases in Southeast U.S.

North Carolina

South Carolina

Florida

Georgia

Tennessee

Alabama

Avoid Mosquito BitesAvoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent Containing Apply Insect Repellent Containing DEET DEET

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites Bites

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours

Apply Insect Repellent Containing Apply Insect Repellent Containing DEET DEET ((N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamideN,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide ) )

Apply to exposed skinApply to exposed skin Use even when Use even when

outdoors for a short outdoors for a short timetime

CDC CDC Insect Repellant and SInsect Repellant and Safety Questions and Aafety Questions and Answersnswers

EPA EPA Using Insect Repellant Using Insect Repellant SafelySafely

Clothing Can Help Reduce Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito BitesMosquito Bites

Wear long pants, long sleeves, and socks Wear long pants, long sleeves, and socks

Spray clothes with repellant containing Spray clothes with repellant containing permethin or DEET for extra protection.permethin or DEET for extra protection.

Do not spray repellants containing Do not spray repellants containing permethin directly to skin. permethin directly to skin.

Do not spray repellants containing DEET Do not spray repellants containing DEET on the skin under your clothing. on the skin under your clothing.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours

Hours from dusk to dawnHours from dusk to dawn

Take extra care to use repellant and Take extra care to use repellant and protective clothing protective clothing

Consider avoiding outdoor activities Consider avoiding outdoor activities

Mosquito Proof Your Home Mosquito Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Drain Standing Water Water

Install or Repair Install or Repair Screens Screens

Drain Standing WaterDrain Standing Water At least once or twice a week, empty At least once or twice a week, empty

water from flower pots, pet food and water water from flower pots, pet food and water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, buckets, barrels, and cans. buckets, barrels, and cans.

Check for clogged rain gutters and clean Check for clogged rain gutters and clean them out. them out.

Remove discarded tires, and other items Remove discarded tires, and other items that could collect water. that could collect water.

Be sure to check for containers or trash in Be sure to check for containers or trash in places that may be hard to see, such as places that may be hard to see, such as under bushes or under your home under bushes or under your home

Install or Repair ScreensInstall or Repair Screens

Some mosquitoes will try to come Some mosquitoes will try to come indoors.indoors.

Have well-fitting screens on both Have well-fitting screens on both doors and window.doors and window.

Offer to help neighbors whose Offer to help neighbors whose screens might be in bad shape. screens might be in bad shape.

Help Your Community Help Your Community

Report Dead Birds to Local Report Dead Birds to Local AuthoritiesAuthorities

Mosquito Control ProgramsMosquito Control Programs Clean UpClean Up Find Out More about Local Prevention Find Out More about Local Prevention

Efforts Efforts

Report Dead Birds to Local Report Dead Birds to Local AuthoritiesAuthorities

Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile Dead birds may be a sign that West Nile virus is circulating between birds and the virus is circulating between birds and the mosquitoes in an area.mosquitoes in an area.

Over 130 species of birds are known to Over 130 species of birds are known to have been infected with West Nile virus, have been infected with West Nile virus, though not all infected birds will die. though not all infected birds will die.

It's important to remember that birds die It's important to remember that birds die from many other causes besides West Nile from many other causes besides West Nile virus.virus.

CDC CDC West Nile Virus and Birds Questions and AWest Nile Virus and Birds Questions and Answersnswers

Mosquito Control ProgramsMosquito Control Programs

Check with local health authorities to see if Check with local health authorities to see if there is an organized mosquito control there is an organized mosquito control program in your area. program in your area.

If no program exists, work with your local If no program exists, work with your local government officials to establish a government officials to establish a program. program.

The The American Mosquito Control AssociationAmerican Mosquito Control Association can provide advice, and their book can provide advice, and their book Organization for Mosquito Control is a Organization for Mosquito Control is a useful reference. useful reference.

Clean Up Clean Up

Mosquito breeding sites can be Mosquito breeding sites can be everywhere. everywhere.

Neighborhood clean up days can be Neighborhood clean up days can be organized by civic or youth organizations organized by civic or youth organizations to pick up containers from vacant lots and to pick up containers from vacant lots and parks, and to encourage people to keep parks, and to encourage people to keep their yards free of standing water.their yards free of standing water.

Mosquitoes don't care about fences, so it's Mosquitoes don't care about fences, so it's important to control breeding sites important to control breeding sites anywhere in the neighborhood. anywhere in the neighborhood.

Find Out More about Local Find Out More about Local Prevention Efforts Prevention Efforts

You local community may already You local community may already have prevention efforts underway.have prevention efforts underway.

CDC CDC Links to State and Local Government Links to State and Local Government West Nile Virus Web SitesWest Nile Virus Web Sites