What you need to know about West Nile virus

All the rain and melting snow will leave puddles, ponds and ditches full of water for weeks, possibly months, to come. With standing water comes mosquitoes and West Nile virus. West Nile virus is a disease spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is commonly found in humans, birds and other animals, and has been present in the United States since 1999.

Eighty percent of the people infected with this virus will experience no symptoms, while the remaining 20 percent may have headaches, fever, rashes, aches, and/or swollen lymph glands. Symptoms usually begin three to 14 days after being bitten by the mosquito. In one out of 150 cases, the virus can cause a life-threatening inflammation of the brain or the membrane surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Although people may become sick, they do not become infectious.

As gardeners, our outdoor activities expose us to mosquito bites. Take steps to make your property less attractive to mosquitoes. Get rid of all standing water on your property. Mosquitoes can breed in any area that holds water, laying hundreds of eggs in just a tablespoon of water.

Old tires, saucers for plants, even kids' swimming pools can be breeding places. I had an old bathtub that I used for a fountain. If I didn't run it regularly, mosquitoes would breed there. Buckets, a wheelbarrow, a wagon, or a boat stored outside may contain standing water. There are growth-regulator products available at nurseries and online for placing in ponds or pools to prevent the larvae of mosquitoes from developing into adults.

When outside, protect yourself and your family. Wear long sleeves and pants, particularly after dusk or if working in shady or damp areas. Use insect repellent. Effective repellents contain 20 to 30 percent DEET. Products with greater than 35 percent DEET can have side effects, especially if used by children. Read and follow all label directions because DEET is an insecticide.

Avoid going out when mosquitoes are active - dawn, dusk and the early evening. Protect infants by placing netting over their carriers when they are outside. Did you know that when many people gather, they give off carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes from a distance?

Wind repels mosquitoes, so fans on the patio may keep them at bay when you want to be outside.

Keep mosquitoes from getting into the house by making all windows and screens bug tight. Vitamin B, bug zapper, and ultrasonic devices do not work against mosquitoes. This information was taken from the Carson City Health Department Vector Control Division's West Nile Virus brochure.

Contact me at 887-2252 or skellyj@unce.unr.edu, or your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office, for more gardening information. Or, check out many useful horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu. "Ask a Master Gardener" by e-mailing mastergardeners@unce.unr.edu.

• JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.