4 D's of West Nile Prevention

Dusk and Dawn

Dusk and dawn are the times of day when mosquitoes are most active. Avoid being outside during these times of day to prevent bites.

Dress

Dress in long sleeves and pants when you're outside. We know it's hot in Texas in the summer and wearing long sleeves and pants sounds terrible, but mosquitoes can only bite skin they can reach. Try longer shorts and tennis shoes, instead. For extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.

Drain

Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

DEET (N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide)

DEET is an ingredient to look for in your insect repellent. DEET has been tested and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Remember you only want to apply repellants to exposed skin or clothing and avoid contact with your eyes and mouth. DEET concentrations vary from less than 10 to more than 30 percent. The higher the concentration the longer lasting the repellant. Follow label instructions, and always wear repellent when outdoors.

Additional Resources

For more information on West Nile Virus, see the following links:

Texas Department of State Health Services

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

You can view a map showing West Nile Virus test results by county.