Health officials call their tips for protecting against West Nile the “Four Ds”:
—Dawn-dusk: Avoid being outside at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. If you are outside at those times, use protection.
—Dress: Wear loose, lightweight long-sleeve clothing and pants when outside. For extra protection, spray thin clothing with insect repellent.
—DEET: Whenever you are outdoors, use an insect repellent with DEET (N, N-diethylm-toluamide) or another repellent approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Drain: Get rid of standing water in your backyard and neighborhood, including in old tires, flowerpots and clogged rain gutters. Standing water is where mosquitoes breed. Change water in birdbaths at least weekly.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
