West Nile Virus

Although mosquitoes are most active at dusk or dawn, some bite during the day. Mosquitoes will bite if you enter an area where they are resting, such as high grass or heavy underbrush. While it is not necessary to limit outdoor activity (unless there is evidence of mosquito-borne disease in the area), you can and should reduce your risk of being bitten by mosquitoes.
Common sense steps you can take to minimize the probability of infection include remembering the

5 D’s of West Nile Virus prevention:

1. DAWN &
2. DUSK – When possible, avoid spending time outside at dawn and dusk.
3. DRESS– Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
4. DRAIN – Reduce the amount of standing water in or near your property by draining and/or removing it. Mosquitoes may lay eggs in areas with standing water.
5. DEET – For additional protection from mosquitoes, use an insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) or picaridin (KBR 3023). Other insect repellents such as oil of lemon eucalyptus and IR3535 are also registered by the EPA but may be less effective than products containing DEET. It is important to follow the product guidelines when using insect repellent.

Additional Resources:

• For more information about WNV, please visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/
• For information about human WNV testing, please visit the Wyoming Public Health Lab website at: https://health.wyo.gov/phsd/lab/microbiology_section.html
• For information about animal WNV testing, please visit the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory website at http://wyovet.uwyo.edu/