Keep Safe during Mosquito Season

It’s summertime... Protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus.

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions.
  
  For DEET FREE....  use products like Bugables Bracelets.  Natural oils & Citronella. Safer for Children than products containing DEET.  Great to send with them at camp.
  

• When weather permits, wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.  DEET free Bugable Bracelets work well for this reason.
  
• Take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing from dusk to dawn or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
  
  

  Symptoms of West Nile Virus...

  No symptoms in most people. Most people (70-80%) who become infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms.  That is why it is SO important to not get bitten in the first place.
  
  About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with this type of West Nile virus disease recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.