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NANAY is an official Organizational Partner for 2010 Florida Sunshine Census    

Protecting Yourself from Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus

How can you help to reduce annoyance from mosquitoes and also protect yourself and your family from infection?

The following tips come from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or Richard Pollack, Ph.D., an instructor in tropical public health at the Harvard School of Public Health.

• Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening, when mosquitoes are most active. Certain mosquitoes will be active at midday as well.  

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if practical when you are outdoors.

• Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Read, understand and follow label directions.

• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Select a repellent that is EPA-registered and appropriate for your age and planned activities. Repellents containing DEET are generally more effective than those containing other active ingredients. Adults may benefit from repellents containing as little as 10 percent, or as much as 35 percent, DEET. Higher concentrations than this provide very little additional protection, and they may increase the chance of irritation or of damage to synthetic materials. Follow manufacturer directions.

• When applying insect repellents to children, use products with a DEET concentration of 10 percent or less. Children should not apply the products to themselves. Do not apply repellents near the eyes or mouth, and do not apply to children’s hands, which may end up in their eyes or mouth, causing irritation.

• Install or repair window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.

• Dump out standing water in your yard, collected in places such as tires, empty flowerpots, toys and open garbage cans. Change water often in birdbaths and keep your wading pool covered when not in use.

• Keep your gutters clean, also to prevent standing water.

• Contact your local mosquito-control agency for other advice or assistance.

• If you have a pond, consider buying mosquito-eating fish. Perhaps the best known is the mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis. Before buying, however, contact your state fish and wildlife agency to make sure this is appropriate and permissible.

Note: Vitamin B, "ultrasonic" devices and mosquito traps have not been found effective in preventing mosquito bites or reducing risk of infection.

Source: http://www.intelihealth.com

NANAY, Inc

 

Telephone 305-981-3232      FAX 305-981-3231      

Postal address :

NANAY COMMUNITY CENTER: 659 N.E. 125 Street, North Miami, Florida 33161

        

        

WEBMASTER:  joybruce@aol.com 

NANAY Inc. is supported by Florida Older Americans Act, Alliance for Aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida Department of Transportation, Miami-Dade Alliance for Human Services, Dept of Health and Human Services, Miami-Dade County Office of Community and Economic Development, North Miami CDBG, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), National Asian Women's Health Organization (NAWHO),  AETNA Foundation and United Way  (Miami-Dade Reg. # 161126)