The hot weather combined with heavy rains in parts of the country have made this a particularly bad year for mosquitoes, which suggests it could also be a bad year for West Nile virus, which is spread by mosquitoes.
Last summer's outbreak of West Nile was the deadliest on record in the U.S., with 5,674 cases reported in 48 states, including 286 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has logged only six cases of West Nile infection so far this year, including one fatal case in California. But it's still early in the season (last year's outbreak peaked in August), and if you haven't already taken steps to protect yourself from mosquito bites, now is the time to start. Those include the following:
Use insect repellent when you'll be outside. See which repellents performed best in our most recent tests.
Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt if you go outdoors at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
Empty standing water from gutters, flowerpots, buckets, or other items outside your home.
Install or repair screens on windows and doors.
When possible, keep your windows closed and use air-conditioning. That helps keep mosquitoes from getting inside in the first place, plus it creates a less-hospitable environment for them, since they thrive in warmth and humidity.
Learn how to protect yourself from other hot-weather perils, including ticks and poison ivy.
There's no specific treatment for West Nile infection. But seek medical attention if you develop symptoms, including fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. You might need interventions to help support your body's functions until the infection clears. In severe cases (less than 1 percent overall), West Nile can invade the nervous system, potentially causing serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis. About one-tenth of serious cases—known as neuroinvasive illness—are fatal, the CDC says.
Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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