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Q  
"With it already mosquito season, what are the chances of getting West Nile Virus?"

A
You will reduce your chance of getting the West Nile virus if can reduce the opportunity of getting bit by mosquitoes. People cannot catch West Nile from other people. Here are some tips to get those annoying insects to buzz-off: 

• Wear bug repellent containing DEET (permethrin) every time you go outdoors. Be sure to spray read the directions carefully and spray on clothing as well as exposed skin.

• Try to stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and early evening, when mosquitoes are most active. 

• When possible, wear long-sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors. 

• Dispose of containers such as buckets that collect and hold water. This includes cleaning debris from rain gutters. 

• Change water in birdbaths at least once every three days. 

• Mow your lawn regularly and cut down weeds next to the house and in the yard.

Most people who get West Nile virus infections get such a mild illness they may not even notice it. Symptoms usually appear in 3 to 15 days, and can include fever, headache, and body aches, occasionally with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. More severe infections may cause high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, and muscle weakness. In rare cases, those who experience a serious form of the disease can result in death.

For more information about Mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus, feel free to contact the City of St. Louis Department of Health Vector Control Program at (314) 622-4252.

St. Andrew's At-Home Services helps to serve the needs of older adults and their families in the comfort of their home, including housekeeping, transportation, meal preparation, personal care, nursing services and companionship. 

For more information, please call (314) 726-5766.

St. Andrew's Resources for Seniors: Eldercare & Caregiver Resource Center
6633 Delmar Blvd.  St. Louis, MO  63130  Phone: 314-726-5766   Fax: 314-726-5719  Contact Us

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