West Nile virus (WNV) is a disease that is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Less than 1 percent of those bitten by infected mosquitoes become severely ill. If you have symptoms that include stiff neck, high fever or severe headache, contact your health-care provider immediately.

WNV can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease, so it is important to take the time to prevent mosquito bites. Just one mosquito bite can transmit West Nile virus or other diseases. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for WNV; therefore, preventing mosquito bites is essential.

Remember the Four Ds to defend yourself against West Nile Virus:

1. DUSK/DAWN are the times of day you should try to stay indoors. This is when infected mosquitoes are most active.
2. DRESS in long sleeves and pants when you're outside, especially during dusk and dawn. For extra protection, you may want to spray thin clothing with repellent.
3. DEET- (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) containing insect repellant has been described as the most effective means of preventing mosquito bites that could cause infection with West Nile virus. The CDC has also endorsed two new non-DEET containing products based on new research. Studies show that picaridin is comparable with DEET products of similar concentration and oil of lemon eucalyptus provides protection time similar to low-concentration DEET products.
4. DRAIN standing water from old tires, flowerpots, birdbaths, buckets, toys and clogged rain gutters in your backyard and neighborhood at least once a week. These are mosquito breeding sites.

More information on WNV can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Surveillance for WNV and other Arboviruses in Iowa
Since the 1975 St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) epidemic and introduction of western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), Iowa has developed programs to monitor mosquito and arbovirus activity. The program is a joint effort of the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Iowa State University Department of Entomology (ISU), the University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL), and the larger city/county health departments.

Collaboration between epidemiology and laboratory practice are essential facets that help build an effective arboviral surveillance system. In 2000, the program was expanded to include the detection of West Nile virus (WNV).

The program relies on several components, including the following:

• Statewide surveillance through mosquito trapping and testing, sentinel chicken testing, and the monitoring of human and equine cases of arbovirus cases.
• Tracking and reporting arboviral disease activity in mosquitoes, sentinel chickens, humans and horses.
• Collection, enumeration, speciation and testing of mosquitoes.
• Education of local public health departments, healthcare providers and the public about disease prevention, diagnostics, symptoms, treatment, newly recognized modes of transmission, emerging clinical syndromes in humans, mosquito control measures (both personal and community measures) and vectoral capacity.
• Dissemination of information by Internet websites (IDPH, ISU, UHL), weekly Friday Epi Update e-mail publication from IDPH, Iowa-LRN laboratory listserve and various printed educational materials.

West Nile Virus activity in Iowa is posted by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)