West Nile virus

West Nile virus

City Rep. Alejandra Chavez

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health is urging residents to take proactive steps to prevent mosquito bites and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, as the community enters peak mosquito season. Health officials advise that mosquitoes located in the Upper Valley have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Individuals who are elderly or have underlying medical conditions—including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, or those who have undergone organ transplants—are at higher risk of developing serious illness from mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile Virus and Zika. El Pasoans can help ‘fight the bite’ by following these 4 easy prevention steps: * DEET: Use insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors. * DRESS: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors. * DUSK & DAWN: Although mosquitoes associated with WNV can be active throughout the day, residents should take extra care during peak mosquito biting hours (from dusk to dawn) or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times. * DRAIN: Drain standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, and birdbaths. After rains or lawn watering, residents should “tip and toss” any standing water they find outside. Symptoms of West Nile infection include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting and swollen lymph glands.