| West Nile Virus Prevention Guidelines |
| City of Long Beach Public Health Officials are continuing to monitor and treat public areas to prevent the spread of infection in the City and urge residents and business owners to protect themselves and their neighbors by following a few simple guidelines: |
- Remove pools of standing or stagnant water. Debris piles, buckets, barrels, kid’s toys, and tire swings are some common sources of stagnant water. Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle and they are most active around stagnant water.
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- Clear gutters and drains of standing water.
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- Change water in birdbaths frequently.
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- Maintain swimming pools and spas with proper filtration and chlorination levels. Green or dirty pools can breed thousands of mosquitoes in a week's time, unnecessarily increasing the population's risk of contracting WNV.
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- Limit the watering of lawns and outdoor plants to twice a week to avoid run off to gutters and around sprinklers.
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- Limit your time outdoors when you notice mosquito activity (primarily at dusk and dawn). If you remain outdoors while mosquitoes are biting, wear clothing that provides more coverage of your skin (such as long sleeved shirts and pants).
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- Use mosquito repellents containing 10-30% DEET when outdoors and especially between dusk and dawn. The repellent should be sprayed on clothing and exposed skin. Residents should follow instructions on the label. Consult with your child's pediatrician for appropriate concentrations to be used on children under the age of two.
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- Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens and are in good repair.
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| West Nile Virus Resources |
| http://www.westnile.ca.gov |
| http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm |
| Environmental Health: Vector Control WNV Page |
