Sprays, other items guard against West Nile

To help avoid getting West Nile, an array of mosquito-repelling sprays, wipes and lotions that contain anywhere from 7 percent DEET to almost 100 percent are available at retail stores. The percentage of DEET in a product relates to how long it will last, so a product with 7 percent DEET should be effective from one to two hours.

There are also foggers, citronella candles, mosquito lanterns, lamps and coils that repel the insects from outside areas.

Larvacide tablets, which are placed in standing water where the insects may breed, are also available.

Other precautions are suggested to protect against mosquito bites:

Remove standing water from around your home

Limit outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active

Wear long pants and long sleeves when outdoors

Compared to having what some West Nile sufferers have described as the worst headache of their lives, biologist and insect expert Dr. Christina Frazier said the retail-store precautions are common sense.

"It's such an easy thing to protect yourself, why not do it?" she said.

--Southeast Missourian