1. Eliminate pools of stagnant water in your yard.

   • Empty water from outdoor containers, buckets, cans, old tires, tarps and unused swimming pools, and swimming pool covers

   • Clean bird baths and animal watering bowls weekly

   • Turn outdoor buckets and containers upside down to prevent water from accumulating

   • Put drain holes in planters and other similar containers

   • Clean gutters to drain properly

2. Clear debris from curbs and roadside ditches

   • Wet leaves, yard waste, other trash that blocks drainage can create a breeding ground for mosquitoes

3. Repair window screens.

   • Window screens are effective barriers against mosquitoes entering your home.

   • Keep windows and doors closed.

4. Install yellow light bulbs in outdoor lamps.

   • These bulbs will not attract mosquitoes like white light bulbs.

5. Use natural predators to limit mosquito populations.

   • Minnows or goldfish can be placed in backyard ponds to prey on mosquitoes.

   • Dragonfly larvae and aquatic beetles are predators of mosquito larvae.

6. Dress properly

   • Wear long pants and long sleeved shirts

   • Limit use of scented antiperspirants, perfumes, and colognes if spending time outdoors. The smell of these products attracts mosquitoes and other insects.

7. Use an insect repellent

   • Repellents containing DEET have been found to be most effective. Follow label directions with any insect repellent.

   • Various studies indicate Ultrasound and CO2 are not effective in reducing mosquito populations or nuisance levels.

8. Limit or avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk

   • Dawn and dusk, which are the times when mosquitoes are most active.

9. Use insecticides sparingly and carefully

   • Insecticides should be used to control mosquitoes only as a last resort because they can affect other insects and animals, as well as humans.

   • Chemicals designed for use against mosquito larvae (mosquitoes breed and spawn in still water) are preferable to those to be used against adult mosquitoes. Always read and closely follow label directions before using.

10. Call the Neighborhood Action Line to report trash and nuisances

    • Call 529-9999 day or night to report trash, discarded tires, code violations, abandoned vehicles or other problems which may contribute to unsafe situations.

For further information on actions you can take to protect yourself from WNV you may access the K-State University publication Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus available at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu, www.cdc.gov, www.kdhe.state.ks.us.