• A disease spread by mosquitoes that can cause serious illness in a small percentage of affected people.
• Most people who get infected with the virus don't get sick at all.
• 1 in 5 people may have a flu-like illness and 1 out of 150 develop severe symptoms.

You can become exposed if a mosquito infected with the virus bites you.

• Mosquitoes get infected by feeding on crows or other birds that carry the virus.
• Horses and other animals can also be infected with the virus. If you have horses, consult your veterinarian about a horse vaccine.
• Crows and other animals don't transmit the virus to humans.

In October 2006, West Nile virus was detected for the first time in dead birds in King County, so this means there are infected mosquitoes in King County.

• It is rare for a bite from an infected mosquito to make someone sick. If symptoms do result, they generally appear in 3-14 days after being bitten.
• People who do get sick develop flu-like symptoms that may include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen glands and sometimes a rash.
• Serious infection is rare. People with severe infection may also develop headache, stiff neck, weakness, confusion, shakes, seizures, paralysis and go into a coma (West Nile meningitis and encephalitis).
• People over 50 seem to be at the most risk of developing severe illness.

• Help your children avoid mosquito bites.
• Teach them to how to safely use mosquito repellent.
• Teach them to wear protective clothing when possible: light-colored clothing with long sleeves.
• Be aware when mosquitoes are biting, which is often at dawn and dusk.
• There is no vaccine to prevent infection.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, even very small amounts.

• Regularly drain or tip out standing water from containers like toys, flower pots, cans, buckets, barrels and pool covers.
• Remove anything where water can collect, like old tires, and bottles and cans for recycling.
• Keep the water clean in birds baths and ornamental water fountains and ponds. Change the water at least once a week.
• Clean out clogged gutters.

• Be sure your windows and doors are properly screened; repair ripped screens and consider adding a screen door to doors that are often left open.
• Repair leaky indoor faucets.
• Use barriers like mosquito nets or screens for baby strollers.

Discourage mosquitoes from biting:

• Using an insect repellant with DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is very effective against mosquitoes.
• You will see different concentrations of DEET on the label, the higher the concentration the longer the protection lasts.
• Experts recommend that children from 2 -12 years shouldn't use DEET concentrations higher than 10%.
• The best way to protect infants and toddlers less than 2 years is to limit their exposure with clothing but low concentrations of DEET are thought to be safe.
• DEET can also be safely used in pregnant and breast-feeding women.
• Consult your doctor if you have questions about using insect repellent.
• A new and effective product called picaridin is being recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Recommendations for using mosquito repellant:

• Reading the instructions carefully.
• Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing. Do not apply repellent to skin that is under clothing. Heavy application is not necessary to have it work. Do not apply repellent to cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
• Do not spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed areas.
• Do not apply aerosol or pump products directly to your child's face. Spray your hands and then rub them carefully over the face, avoiding eyes and mouth.

• West Nile Virus was found in rare circumstances in blood given for transfusions and in breast milk.
• Since 1999 only 3 infants are thought to have been exposed through infected breast milk.
• All blood, tissue and organ donations are now being checked for West Nile virus.

Public Health - Seattle & King County is working to protect you and your family through our West Nile virus plan. Our plan consists of three parts:

1) public education to reduce the mosquito population and to inform people how to protect themselves from mosquito bites;

2) surveillance of bird deaths, mosquito problem areas, and larvae habitat, and

3) if necessary, by advising local cities and county agencies on ways to safely eliminate mosquitoes in a way that is protective of both human health and the environment.