"Seventy percent of South Dakotans say they take precautions again WNV during the summer," said Dr. Lon Kightlinger, state epidemiologist for the department. "Unfortunately, people who are at highest risk, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are less likely to take precautions than those at lower risk."
The department recommends the following personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of WNV:
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- Use�mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Wear shoes, socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to limit mosquito exposure.�
- Limit time outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Eliminate standing water that gives mosquitoes a place to breed.
- Support local mosquito-control efforts.
Personal precautions are particularly important for the elderly, pregnant women, transplant patients and people with other underlying medical conditions. People with a severe or unusual headache should see their physician.
For more information about�West Nile,�visit the Department of Health Web site at http://WestNile.sd. gov or call 1-800-592-1861.
Information is also available from the�SDSU Cooperative Extension Service at http://sdces.sdstate.edu /westnile/�and the South Dakota Animal Industry Board at www.state.sd.us/aib.
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