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Outdoor events don't have to be canceled this summer to avoid mosquitoes. By taking personal precautions and controlling mosquito breeding you can reduce your risk of contracting the West Nile virus.
Join the Fight Against Mosquitoes
Here are some things that you can do to reduce being bitten by a mosquito ( mosquito photos):
- Limit time outdoors from dusk until dawn.
- Wear long sleeve shirts and pants when possible.
- Use mosquito repellents that contain DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
- Check the screening on your windows and doors.
Q. What should I do if I find a dead bird?
A. Check with Consumer Health & Food Safety for instructions on reporting and disposing of a dead bird. If you need to pick up a dead bird, or local authorities tell you to simply dispose of it: Avoid bare-handed contact with any dead animals, and use gloves or an inverted plastic bag to place the bird carcass in a garbage bag and dispose of it with your routine trash.
Pima County Health Department's West Nile Virus Hotline (520) 243-7999
For information about illness in humans and horses please call (520) 243-7797
Don't be a "Mosquito Farmer"
You can help to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites in your yard and neighborhood. When mosquitoes breed close to your home, you and your family are more at risk of being bitten and getting sick.
Pour out or remove standing water in flowerpot saucers, gutters, puddles, buckets and watering cans. Check gardening equipment and children's outdoor toys. Turn wading pools & wheelbarrows upside-down when not in use. Drill holes in the bottom of tire swings to allow the water to drain. Cover water harvesting containers.
Throw out unneeded items that collect water, i.e. discarded tires, old items in your yard. Cover trash cans and recycling containers.
Change out water two to three times a week in bird baths, pet water dishes, and livestock troughs. Check the ground underneath the drain line of your swamp cooler, too.
West Nile Virus - What it is and How to Protect Our Community (PowerPoint Presentation) West Nile Basic Facts
The chance of getting sick from West Nile Virus is low. Most people who are exposed to the West Nile virus do not have any symptoms, or have a mild illness that goes away on its own within a few days to a few weeks.
Less than one out of 150 people who become ill with West Nile Virus will develop a more serious form of the infection such as meningitis or encephalitis, which will require hospitalization. Treatment is mostly supportive care. Currently, there is no vaccine for humans.
Vaccines are available for horses. People are encouraged to vaccinate their horses. Pet birds should be kept indoors to limit mosquito exposure. Other livestock and pets are rarely affected by the West Nile virus. If you have questions or concerns about your livestock, please consult your veterinarian.
West Nile Virus Symptoms and Signs (Mayo Clinic website)
West Nile Virus - What it is and How to Protect Our Community (PowerPoint Presentation)
Q. Do birds infected with West Nile virus die or become ill?
A. In the 1999 New York area epidemic, there was a large die-off of American crows. Since then, West Nile virus has been identified in more than 200 species of birds found dead in the United States. Most of these birds were identified through reporting of dead birds by the public.
Pima County Mosquito Study Map
Please follow the link below (click on map) to view the latest information about where mosquito surveillance is taking place, and where positive West Nile virus testing results have been found.
The Mosquito Study Map is brought to you by Pima County Health Department & Pima County Department of Transportation.
 
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PIMA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT | 3950 S. Country Club Road, Ste. 100 Tucson, Arizona 85714
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