West Nile Virus Prevention

PREVENTION IS THE BEST PROTECTION

As the virus is only spread by mosquitoes, staying inside from dusk to dawn and wearing long sleeved clothing are your best bets but if you are going to be exposed to insects, your options include:

• Insect repellants: substances applied to exposed skin or to clothing that repel but do not kill insects. Most contain DEET as their active ingredient.

• Look for repellants with no more than 30 percent DEET for adults and no more than 10 percent for children. Children should not have DEET-containing repellant on their hands and children under six months of age should not have DEET applied at all. Health Canada also advises not to apply DEET more than three times a day to children between 2 and 12 years of age. Pregnant women can apply repellant to their clothes only – not directly on their skin. For more information, visit Health Canada’s web site at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pmraarla/english/indexe.html (Safety tips on using personal insect repellants)

ADDITIONAL PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

• Make sure there is no stagnant water (including birdbaths) or standing water on your lawn. Regularly drain rain barrels, swimming pool covers, eaves troughs, flowerpots and planters. Keep wheelbarrows and wading pools overturned when not in use.

• Around your yard and lawn, throw away lawn cuttings, raked leaves and fruit or berries that fall from trees immediately. Place them in sealed garbage bags. Turn over compost piles regularly and remove dense shrubbery where mosquitoes are liable to breed and rest.

• Check all your window and door screens for holes.

REPORTING DEAD BIRDS

Dead birds in an area may mean the West Nile virus is circulating between the birds and the mosquitoes in that area. Over 110 species of birds are known to have been infected with West Nile virus. Although birds, particularly crows and jays, infected with West Nile virus can die or become ill, most infected birds do survive. The public plays an important role in monitoring West Nile virus through reporting dead birds to local health departments. There is some evidence that handling dead birds can infect a person, however the risk is very low. Wear gloves and use a thick plastic bag if you have to handle a dead bird.

GENERAL USE INFORMATION FOR PERSONAL INSECT REPELLANTS

• Always read the entire label carefully before using.

• Apply the repellant sparingly, and only on exposed skin surfaces or on top of clothing. Do not use under clothing. Heavy application and saturation are unnecessary for effectiveness. Repeat applications only as necessary.

• Do not get in eyes. If you do get repellant in eyes, rinse immediately with water.

• Do not use the repellant on open wounds, or if your skin is irritated or sunburned.

• Avoid breathing spray mists and never apply sprays inside a tent. Use only in well ventilated areas. Do not use near food.

• Wash treated skin with soap and water when you return indoors or when protection is no longer needed.

• Keep all insect repellant containers out of reach of children.

• Always supervise the application on children.

• Avoid applying repellant to children’s hands to reduce the chance of getting the repellant in their eyes and mouth.

• If you suspect that you or your children are reacting to an insect repellant, stop using the product immediately, wash treated skin and seek medical attention. When you go to the doctor, take the product container with you.

• If you are concerned that you are sensitive to a product, apply the product to a small area of skin on your arm and wait 24 hours to see if a reaction occurs.