Combating West Nile

People who live in Southeast Missouri are accustomed to taking steps to fend off mosquitoes. The detection this week of West Nile virus in a dead crow found in Cape Girardeau provides even more reason to take precautions against being bit.

Eighty percent of people infected with West Nile virus never develop any symptoms. Most of the other 20 percent develop West Nile fever, which results in fever, headaches and fatigue. Occasionally symptoms include a skin rash on the trunk of the body, swollen lymph glands and eye pain.

Severe illness occurs in about 1 in 150 people infected. The most severe diseases caused by the virus include West Nile meningitis, West Nile encephalitis and West Nile poliomyelitis.

The methods of warding off mosquitoes are well known but are worth repeating:

* Use an insect repellent containing DEET.

* Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants outdoors and avoid the outdoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are busiest.

* Drain sources of standing water to keep mosquitoes from breeding.