As much as I love the summertime, my absolute least favorite thing about this season are those pesky mosquitoes. And now I've grown to fear them more as new reports have shown that the rate of West Nile Virus in the United States has reached an all time high! According to the CDC, there have been more than 1,118 cases reported across 47 states, including 41 deaths–with Texas being the most affected. Yikes! If that info won't scare you to overdo it on the bug repellant, this will.
The worst part about the virus is that there are no vaccines to prevent you from getting infected nor are there any medications to treat the virus once you get it. But there ARE precautions you can take!
Read more in ¿Qué más?:Scary! West Nile virus has killed 28 and is spreading faster than other years
Although we can't tell you which mosquitoes to look out for, we can offer you a few ways to prevent yourself and your family from catching the scary virus.
Make sure to wear bug repellant. You would be surprised at the number of people who forget to spray on bug repellant (including myself) before going out during the summer. Especially during this scare, we should be spraying ourselves whenever we plan on visiting mosquito-infested areas. The key is to choose a repellant that has a high percentage of its active ingredient because it lasts longer.
Don't forget to wear long sleeve shirts and pants. I know if you're in the dead of summer, the last thing you want to do is wear a long sleeved T-shirt or jeans. But on nights when the weather permits, make sure to avoid wearing clothes that provide little coverage and make you instant mosquito bait.
It's important that you get rid of excess moisture. For example, get rid of standing water from indoor houseplants, pet dishes, or swimming pool covers because they serve as breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Make sure you have installed window and door screens. If you already have these two items, great! But make sure they are secure enough, because any faulty screens can easily let mosquitoes enter your home.
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If you can, avoid being outdoors at peak times. Mosquitoes tend to appear more during dusk, dawn, and early morning, making you an excellent prey if you're out and about at this time. If you do need to be out at these hours make sure you cover up!
I hope these help you ladies out as summer is still in full bloom. I know I'll be following these tips into account whenever I go out!
Are you scared about the West Nile Virus spreading?Tell us in the comments box below!
Image via iceberg273/flickr
