• When possible, wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants treated with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Do not apply repellents containing permethrin directly to exposed skin. If you spray your clothing, there is no need to spray repellent containing DEET on the skin under your clothing.

• Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, which are peak mosquito biting times.

• Limit the number of places available for mosquitos to lay their eggs by eliminating standing water sources from around your home.

• Check to see if there is an organized mosquito control program in your area. If no program exists, work with your local government officials to establish a program. The American Mosquito Control Association can provide advice, and their book Organization for Mosquito Control is a useful reference. Another source of information about pesticides and repellents is the National Pesticide Information Center, which also operates a toll-free information line: 1-800-858-7378 (check their website for hours).

About the Virus, the Disease, and Its Spread

West Nile virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and can infect people, horses, many types of birds, and some other animals.

Most people who become infected with West Nile virus will have either no symptoms or only mild ones. However, on rare occasions, West Nile virus infection can result in severe and sometimes fatal illnesses.

There is no evidence to suggest that West Nile virus can be spread from person to person or from animal to person.

If you have a medical emergency, contacting CDC is not the proper way to get immediate help. If you are a patient, please see your health care provider or the nearest emergency room. If you are a health care provider, please contact your state epidemiologist or local health department.

Reporting Dead Birds

Dead birds in an area may mean that 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 can play an important role in monitoring West Nile virus through reporting dead birds to state and local health departments. However, in some areas, birds are no longer being collected. Inaddition, state and local agencies have different policies for collecting and testing birds. Contact your State and Local Government to get information about reporting dead birds in your area.

Note: This page is for informational purposes only, and further information about the West Nile Virus can be found by contacting the Center For Disease Control or by clicking one of the links below.

| National Center for Infectious Diseases |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |