An ounce of prevention: reminder to reduce West Nile virus risks

(NC)-They say an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. Someone should have told that to Alexander the Great. Some modern scientists actually think that the Macedonian King died due to infection from West Nile virus instead of the more common theory of Typhoid. Either way, nowadays we know enough to about the virus to take preventative measures against mosquito bites, reducing the risks that West Nile virus presents to us-and for that, we're lucky.

Mosquito season is here. Though the disease doesn't usually appear in humans until much later in the summer, now is the time to take the necessary steps around our homes and cottages to limit the risk of getting infected by a mosquito bite. Here are some tips to get you started:

. Clean up areas where mosquitoes like to breed. Unlike birds or other insects, most mosquitoes do not fly very far and tend to stay close to their breeding sites and normal habitat. Take a look around your house and property and get rid of mosquito-friendly places that would make good breeding sites or resting places for mosquitoes.

. Remove any type of standing water at least once a week. Empty containers of standing water such as old tires, flower pots, wheelbarrows, barrels, tin cans or small containers like bottle tops that are outdoors. Drill holes in the bottoms of used containers so water can't collect. Regularly change water in birdbaths and immediately remove water that collects on pool covers.

. Clean up yards and lawns. Turn over compost frequently. Collect, recycle or mulch lawn cuttings, raked leaves or other decaying debris such as apples or berries that fall from trees. Remember to fill in low depressions in lawn areas and to clear out dense shrubbery where mosquitoes like to rest.

. Check eaves and drains. Clear leaves and twigs from eavestroughs and roof gutters throughout the summer. Make sure drainage ditches are not clogged and regularly check flat roofs frequently for standing water.

. Check windows. Always make sure that door screens and windows fit snugly into the frames, so mosquitoes will not get indoors.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus. If infected, some people will not feel any symptoms, while others may end up with a mild illness such as West Nile fever, or a serious neurological illness such as encephalitis. West Nile virus has been present in Ontario for several years, though there were no human cases reported in 2004.

- News Canada