The summer season has finally arrived and as you are headed out to enjoy the great outdoors, the province is reminding residents to be careful when it comes to mosquito bites.
Saskatchewan residents are being advised to take precautions against West Nile Virus, as weather warms up and numbers of the Culex tarsalis mosquitoes that can carry the virus increase.
Experts say the risk of West Nile Virus typically peaks from mid-July through August. The risk varies from year to year; it depends largely on the temperature and the amount of virus present in birds.
You can reduce your risk of contracting West Nile Virus by:
using insect repellent containing DEET;
wearing protective clothing;
reducing time outdoors between dusk and dawn;
regularly cleaning and emptying containers that can collect water such as bird baths and eavestroughs;
clearing yards of old tires and other items that can collect water;
ensuring rain barrels are covered with mosquito screening or are tightly sealed around the downspout;
keeping screens on windows and doors in good repair; and
keeping bushes, shrubs and lawns clear of overgrowth and debris.
In 2012, West Nile Virus was detected in four people in Saskatchewan. None were hospitalized as a result.
While many believe it will "never happen to them," it can and it does. Yet taking a few simple precautions can greatly reduce your risk. Enjoy the sunshine and be safe!
