This page contains important information regarding the West Nile Virus issued by the Southwest District Health Department

Southwest District Health
920 Main St.Caldwell, Idaho 83605 (208) 455-4345Fax (208) 455-5350

1008 E. Locust 824 S. Diamond 1155 3rd Ave. N. 46 W. Court St.
Emmett, ID 83617 Nampa, ID 83686 Payette, ID 83661 Weiser, ID 83672
(208) 365-6371 (208) 465-8410 (208) 642-9321 (208) 549-2370

Methods To Prevent Mosquito Bites And Growth Of Mosquito Populations:

Anyone bitten by an infected mosquito is at risk for the West Nile virus, so health officials suggest that people take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.These precautions include:

• When outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, such as DEET or Picaridin (apply it according to manufacturers’ instructions.) Parents are advised not to apply repellant that contains more than 10 percent DEET on their children. In addition, certain products which contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear. Follow the directions on the package. If parent objects to chemical product mention products with oil of lemon or eucalyptus as an alternative.
  
• Younger elementary school kids should not put repellent on themselves, parent or otherwise.
  
• Don't use spray on face, spray in hands then rub on.
  
• Don't use repellent under cloths
  
• If children under two are brought out to sporting events, encourage parents to use mosquito nettingtreated with a repellent or permethrin as repellent should not be used directly on children under two years old. The netting can be placed around stroller to help protect child.
  
• Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active and feeding. Apply insect repellent to all exposed skin areas and over clothing. If possible, consider staying indoors during these hours.
  
• Don’t over-irrigate your lawns, gardens, or pastures.
  
• Watch standing water around schools. If water is lasting several days, try to eliminate. If standing water cannot be eliminated, treat with a proper larvacide like B.T.I. or methoprene. If pond/puddle occasionally dries up, use the methoprene.
  
• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by draining standing water from such items as: tarps covering equipment, catch basins, buckets, play ground equipment, flower pots, buckets, and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths and feeding troughs, weekly. Drill holes in tire swings or old tires so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty or on their sides when not in use. Clean rain gutters and check for proper drainage around the home and facility, making sure sprinklers or irrigation systems are not creating puddles.
  
• When considering the spraying or fogging of grounds with an adulticide, contact Bob Hays at the Dept of Ag (442-2803) to discuss practical applications, licensure, approved applicators and common misunderstandings on how mosquito treatment is done. Most people do not understand that the common way pesticides are applied for insect control will not apply to mosquitoes. Time of day and particle size from the sprayer is critical.