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How
to make a small risk smaller
Galveston Daily
News
Published
- 07/30/04
Editorial by Erin Graham
Do you
know where your DEET is?
West Nile virus
was recently found in mosquitoes in Galveston.
West Nile, a disease carried by certain
species of mosquitoes, has been making
headlines for about six years now. Previously
unheard of in this country, it has made
its way across the nation. It can be fatal
in young children and the elderly. Usually, though, the disease
strikes less than 1 percent of those bitten
by infected mosquitoes. However, you don't
want to run the risk of being in that
less than 1 percent category. Here are some tips to avoid
West Nile virus:Follow the "Four Ds"
to reduce your chance of becoming infected.
- Dusk to Dawn: Stay indoors
from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes
likely to carry the infection are
most active.
- Dress: Dress in long
pants and long sleeves when you are
outside, especially in mosquito-infested
areas.
- DEET: Apply insect repellent
that contains DEET, spraying both
exposed skin and clothing.
- Drain: Get rid
of standing water in your yard. Old
tires, clogged rain gutters, leaky
pipes and faucets and wading pools
can be breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Read the press
release
For More Information
Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
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