Q. Is there a human vaccine against West Nile encephalitis?
A. No, but several companies are working towards developing a vaccine.

Q. What can I do to reduce my risk of becoming infected with West Nile virus?
A. •Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and in the early evening.

•Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants whenever you are outdoors.

•Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

•Apply insect repellent sparingly to exposed skin. An effective repellent will contain up to 35% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). DEET in high concentrations (greater than 35%) provides no additional protection.

•Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth, so avoid applying repellent to the hands of children.

Whenever you use an insecticide or insect repellent, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's DIRECTIONS FOR USE, as printed on the product.

•Install or repair window and door screens so that mosquitoes cannot get indoors.

Note: Vitamin B and "ultrasonic" devices are NOT effective in preventing mosquito bites.

Q. Where can I get more information on mosquito repellents?
A. Visit the American College of Physicians website: "Mosquitoes and mosquito repellents: A clinician's guide" (Mark S. Fradin, MD. Annals of Internal Medicine. June 1, 1998;128:931-940). You can also find information on insect repellents containing DEET at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. Another good source of information about pesticides and repellents is the National Pesticide Information Center, which also operates a toll-free information line: 1-800-858-7378 (check their website for hours).

(Information on this page obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

For West Nile Virus information updates call toll free:
877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473)
Web site: http://www.westnile.ca.gov

For West Nile Virus information from the Centers for Disease Control:
Visit web site: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile